For Immediate Release

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Melrose Public Schools Launches Smartphone App

MELROSE – Superintendent Cyndy Taymore is pleased to announce that the Melrose Public Schools smartphone app is now live and free for students, parents, teachers and staff to use.

Titled MPS Connect, the app, available for iPhones and Androids, was first created to give users a place to submit anonymous tips to school officials on issues ranging from mental health to graffiti.

“Our goal with this app was to provide a safe space for the Melrose community to anonymously notify school staff about a concerning situation or issue occurring in the district,” Superintendent Taymore said. “We hope that by providing students, parents and staff with an outlet to voice concerns we will be able to more proactively address an incident in its infancy.”

Once downloading the app, users can go to the “Anon. Tip” icon to submit a tip. Users can put in their name, phone number and email if desired, or leave those fields blank.

Additionally, MPS Connect features some of the Melrose Public Schools’ most viewed pages on the district’s website, all in one spot.

Users can find their school’s Facebook or Twitter page on the app, and by clicking on the lunch menus icon, students and parents can see what’s being served at their school each week.

The calendar provides information on district and school-wide events, and the documents icon brings you to important registration, medical, school, and students and families forms. The district’s news blog can be found under the news icon.

Students and parents can quickly access the Aspen page to check homework posts, download materials for classes and get links to assignments.

The app also has the ability to send notifications to users (similar to receiving a text or alert from Facebook) for situations like snow days, delays and other updates.

Neal Ellis, Chief Information Officer for the school’s IT Department, built the app for the district, which is free to download for all those interested.

In the future, Ellis hopes to add additional features, like a place for an online store where students can buy Melrose Public Schools and Melrose Red Raiders gear, and a section for athletic schedules.

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