If your child attends a Sioux Falls Public School, get ready for a possible e-mail or even text message from their teacher or principal. Monday night the Sioux Falls School Board approved using new ways to communicate with parents, whether it's for emergencies, attendance or cancellations.

District officials say this September's natural gas scare at Edison Middle School is a prime example of when the system would have been put to use. Officials evacuated the school believing there may have been a gas leak. No leak was found.

For 3 dollars per student per year school or district personnel can send e-mails, text messages or make cell phone calls to parents and guardians. Superintendent Pam Homan says, "for instance, if the principal wants to be able to remind families that conferences are coming up that night..be able to use the features in that way."

The service is provided by a California-based company. District officials say it will also allow them to translate the messages for non-english speaking families. At Monday night's board meeting, reaction to the plan was positive. Jenica Rasse says, "I think it would be great if they did that. I know some people aren't familiar with how to text and use the phone that way, but I'm sure people could learn."

Board members unanimously approved the plan and district officials say the system can be set up and ready to go by next month.

At Monday's meeting, district officials gave an example of how others have used this system. During the recent California wild fires, a school district there was able to contact 33,000 families in 40 minutes.