Anti-Bullying App Introduced to NY State Public Schools

From Anonymous Alerts: Anonymous Alerts, LLC is now partnered with PNW BOCES to begin distributing its nationally recognized and patented Anonymous Alerts® anti-bullying and safety reporting app system to all 728 public school districts in New York State. Putnam Valley Central School District is the first district in Putnam County to take advantage of the new program offered by PNW BOCES through the Regional Safety Services CoSER. The system encourages students, parents and staff to confidentially report bullying or cyberbullying, depression, drugs, gang-related issues, campus threats, and other sensitive topics through private messages sent to school officials using the Anonymous Alerts® mobile app system.

“Partnering with PNW BOCES will now give all New York State Public School Districts the opportunity to purchase our Anonymous Alerts anti-bullying and safety mobile app reporting system. We are very excited about our new partnership with PNW BOCES,” said T. Gregory Bender, President and CEO of Anonymous Alerts, LLC.

Students, parents and staff can download the Anonymous Alerts® app for free and gain access with a simple activation code to place reports directly to school officials. Web-based reporting is also available to students, parents and the community. Message topics for submission may include student bullying, cyberbullying, family issues, cutting/self-injury, drug and alcohol abuse, student depression, sexual harassment, gang related issues, or unusual student behavior. The Anonymous Alerts® patented system is sold to each district through licensing for an annual subscription.

FAST FACTS ABOUT BULLYING AND SCHOOL SAFETY

• 64% of students do not report being bullied (Source: PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center)
• 88% of social media-using teens have witnessed other people be mean or cruel on social network sites (Source: Pew Research)
• 96% of students own a smartphone (Source: Cyberbullying Institute)
• Heroin use is on the rise amongst young adults (Source: HBO)
• 80% of violent events someone knew about them ahead of time (Source: FBI School Shooter Quick Reference Guide)

"Our top priority is student safety and we are excited to partner with Anonymous Alerts® on a statewide level,” said John McCarthy, Assistant Superintendent of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. “The beauty of Anonymous Alerts® is the ability for submitters to have anonymous 2-way communications/dialogue about an incident or sensitive issue with school officials,” said Michael Sellet, Regional Safety Coordinator of Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES. “If students see something they can say something anonymously without fear of retribution by their peers with anonymous reporting.”

To learn more about the Anonymous Alerts® and PNW BOCES program, please contact info@anonymousalerts.com or visit the Anonymous Alerts® website at www.anonymousalerts.com.

Photo Courtesy of Pixabay