Blackboard Connect is used to send emergency, attendance and general notifications from your child’s campus and Fort Bend ISD, as well as attendance updates and information about negative lunch balances. Parents may opt to receive phone calls, emails and text messages through Blackboard Connect.  Blackboard Connect Job Aid

 Note: Parents listed as Guardian 1 in Family Access will be the primary contact in Blackboard Connect. Only the primary contact will be allowed to add contacts in Blackboard Connect. Primary guardians in separate households will both have the ability to add contacts. 

Text Messaging - By choosing to receive any text messages or phone calls, standard data fees, text messaging rates, or international charges may apply based on your plan with your phone carrier. As mobile access and text message delivery is subject to your mobile carrier network availability, such access and delivery is not guaranteed. 

Communication preferences are customizable based on several categories, including: 

•  Emergency messages: This category pertains to events that are affecting the safety of your child, an incident that is affecting normal operations of your child’s school day, or District closures due to inclement weather or other emergencies. Safety messages will fall into this category if they involve active/ongoing investigations or situations. The default setting for emergency messages will include the primary guardian’s phone/email for each family/household, with ability to add additional contact phone numbers and email addresses and opt-in to texts. At least one phone number and email address are required and must be provided for these communications.
• Attendance messages: These are automated and will be sent out once a day, via phone call and email. The default setting for attendance messages will include the primary guardian’s phone/email for each family/household, with the ability to add additional contact phone numbers and email addresses and opt-in to texts. Parents can opt out of receiving these messages by logging into the system. 
• Balance – These are automated and will be sent out once a week via phone and email, when a child owes more than $5 in their lunch account. The default setting for “balance” messages will include the primary guardian’s phone/email for each family/household, with ability to add additional contact phone numbers and email addresses and opt-in to texts. Parents can opt out of receiving these messages by logging into the system. 
• Other – These are regular and the most common messages sent by campus administrators and the District. These notifications will pertain to campus events and information, as well as general notifications of campus incidents. Some safety messages will fall into this category if they involve general awareness and reminders, or precautionary measures implemented during the course of a school day. The default setting for “Other” messages will include the primary guardian’s phone number or email for each family/household, with ability to add additional contact phone numbers and email addresses and opt-in to texts. Parents can opt out of receiving these messages by logging into the system. Note: Parents are strongly encouraged to have at least one email address set as a preference. Email is the primary communication method for campus and District communications, and not all messages can be abbreviated into a phone call or text. 
• Survey – Please note that this category is not related to the distribution of Fort Bend ISD surveys administered via K12Insight, and this survey feature is not something FBISD plans to utilize at this time.