Bully reporting app being piloted at Sudbury schools
Rainbow school board says it's reaching out through a medium heavily used by students
The Rainbow District School Board in Sudbury is piloting an app that allows students and parents to provide schools with anonymous information on student safety and bullying through a text message, phone call or web-chat.
The Stand Up, Speak Out mobile application provides school administrators with daily anonymous reports so they can follow up. The Rainbow board said if a report is received after 4 p.m., it will be sent to the school on the following weekday morning.
Bruce Bourget, a superintendent with the Rainbow District School Board, said the schools are trying to tap into a technology kids are comfortable with.
"A wide variety of students have these types of devices on them and that they like to use them, so we are trying to tap into the potential for good in these devices," he said.
The Stand Up, Speak Out app also provides a list of community contacts and agencies for students and parents, including the Sudbury & District Health Unit, Greater Sudbury Police Service, and resources for mental health and addiction.
Students and parents of participating schools can download the app from iTunes and for Android or Google Play by searching “RS Stand Up Speak Out”.
Jason Turnbull, host of Up North on CBC Radio One spoke with Bruce Bourget:
Participating schools include A.B. Ellis Public School, Alexander Public School, Central Manitoulin Public School, Larchwood Public School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lockerby Composite School, Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Markstay Public School.
“This pilot project is part of our ongoing efforts to maintain safe learning and teaching environments for all students and staff in Rainbow Schools,” said Director of Education Norm Blaseg.
“It encourages students to stand up and speak out in order to make a difference in their school community.”