Moses Lake School District mulling school safety reporting app

April 30--Print Article

MOSES LAKE -- In the two weeks since the Moses Lake School District's SafeSchools Alert web site has gone live, the district has gotten two tips.

One was a question, according to Superintendent Josh Meek, but one was a legitimate concern that the district has followed up.

"Within five minutes of getting that, we had a follow up plan," Meek told members of the Moses Lake School Board Thursday evening.

The SafeSchools Alert site was created free of charge for the district by its insurer, Clear Risk Solutions, which oversees and administers the School Insurance Association of Washington, and allows anyone to send an anonymous e-mail, text message, or phone call to four district officials -- including Meek and Communications Coordinator McKenna Reis.

"A lot of our tips come after hours, and we have to have some reasonable boundaries for our principals and other things if it is in the middle of the night," Meek said.

Meek said one of the reasons the district wanted to go with the web site was to find out just how much many tips and messages the district would get.

"We've received two reports in two weeks, and we're waiting to see what's to come," Meek said.

However, the superintendent also said studies show few people keep the information handy to send text messages or e-mails in the event they have something to report. So the district is also going ahead to purchase the app-based system endorsed by Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg.

"Very few people pick up the phone and actually talk to people," Meek told board members. "There's no harm in us doing as much as we can to solicit students, parents, and community members to share with us."

A mobile phone app is simply easier to use, and would allow people to send photos as well.

For the last several years, Manweller has been pushing legislation that would have the state pay for districts to deploy phone apps for reporting threats, problems, or incidents.

Meek said it would take STOPit Solutions several weeks to customize their app for the Moses Lake School District, which would then need to be distributed through the Android and iPhone app stores.

The district is still negotiating the cost of the app, though Meek told board members it would not be very much and the district could likely recoup the cost from money the legislature set aside for school security.

Meek also said the district will keep the SafeSchools Alert site, however.

"It's good to have both options available, because not everyone has a cell phone," Meek said.

Charles H. Featherstone can be reached via email at countygvt@columbiabasinherald.com.

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