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By Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune October 10. 2014 3:43PM EP school district launches new app Parents can conveniently access their child’s class schedule, attendance violations, library history and cafeteria balance through the Eagle Point School District’s new app, ParentLink. The app — search for “Jackson CSD9” in the app store — has been in the works for more than a year and was finally made available to parents in mid-September. So far, 519 people have downloaded the app, according to Allen Barber, the district’s human resources director. The primary purpose of the app is to increase communication with parents, Barber said. The district is still working out some of the technical hiccups of the app and will mail parents their login information sometime in the next two weeks, Barber said. Some schools introduced the app at their open house at the beginning of the year and provided parents with their login information then, said David Whitehead, the IT supervisor. “We’re intentionally moving slow because we are trying to tie Synergy (a student information system) with this new app, and we don’t want the cart to get ahead of the horse,” Barber said. The district also manages free apps such as StudentVue, ParentVue, TeacherVue, AdminVue and Special EducationVue offered through Synergy. "The key difference between this app and other apps out there is to communicate via a number of external programs such as Facebook and Twitter," Whitehead said. Anyone can download the free app and subscribe to school activities calendars and social-media feeds, as well as a district directory and tip line. However, only parents can view their students’ personal information. With the tip line, parents and community members can report — anonymously if they choose —  bullying, drugs, fights, threats, vandalism, weapons or personal crises to administrators at the specific school. “It’s another level of deterrent, if you will,” Barber said. Reach reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt.   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141010/NEWS/141019935 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->