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Middle school uses online, text based service to improve safety

04:55 PM CDT on Wednesday, October 1, 2008

KVUE.com

A local middle school has started a new program to improve safety that uses anonymous web and text messages to help students and teachers better communicate.

Canyon Vista Middle School students are the first students in the district to have access to the "Talk About It" service from AnComm.

"Talk About It" is an online text based reporting and emergency notification service for schools. It is the nation's first and only online and text based emergency notification service for schools.

“For students, 'Talk About It' serves as an ‘icebreaker’ giving students a familiar form - the Internet and text messaging - to anonymously communicate and seek resolution to the many types of issues they are experiencing at school on a day-to-day basis, including bullying, fighting depression, drugs and threats of violence,” said Carter Myers, President of AnComm, in a news release. “By focusing on communication, school officials can tap into the best source of information on a school campus - the students themselves - and proactively identify troubled students and avoid potentially catastrophic events".

The program began Sept. 3 and students logging in for the first time completed a School Climate Survey giving their teachers feedback. Students can also vote in polls and elections.

School Safety Specialist Catherine Toohey leads the onsite faculty and student training to make sure the service is effectively used.

Teachers are allowed to send real-time text and e-mail alerts about school closings, activities and other notifications. School Safety Specialist Catherine Toohey leads the onsite faculty and student training to make sure the service is effectively used.

“It is early in the game, but we have already received lots of ‘thank you’ emails from students as well as information that will help us serve them better,” said Canyon Vista Principal Barbara J. Paris in a news release.