Just before the end of National Bully Prevention Month, Hays CISD rolled out an app that features an anti-bullying reporting mechanism, and district officials say the program has gone off without a hitch.
On Oct. 28, the app, featuring not only the new Hays HopeLine but also several other interactive elements, was made available for Apple and Android device users, and more than 1,000 users have downloaded it, district spokesman Tim Savoy said.
It replaced an older district app available on only Apple platforms. The district is advising parents, students and community members to delete the older app and download the new one on either the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Savoy said at an Oct. 21 meeting that the district has been strategizing ways to engage with students via their ever-ubiquitous smartphones.
Because many high school students are now tuned in to the social media stratosphere, district officials said their hope is that the students' digital nativity will lend itself to smartphone application crisis reporting.
"This is just the start of something we hope will grow and be a useful tool," Savoy said.
To access the Hays HopeLine, users must open the Hays CISD app. After clicking on the Hays HopeLine icon, users are advised that the responses to tips made on the HopeLine are only made during school hours.
It directs them further to dial 911 in case of an emergency or 1-800-273-TALK if they need to speak to a local crisis counselor.
Once the dialog box disappears, users are prompted to type in their tip. A photo and the user's location may be submitted along with the tip.
All tips are confidential. They are not, however, anonymous. Users must enter their name and contact information, so that tips can be followed up on.
The crisis reporting tool can also be accessed on a desktop computer by visiting www.hayscisd.net/hopeline.
That the district is tailoring bullying prevention to the students and in a medium they're very familiar with will not only help curb bullying in school but provide a reprieve for counselors, Trustee Sandra Bryant said.
"I'm really excited we have launched something to reach out to the kids," Bryant said. "As we have heard on the news around the world, many kids are having a hard time dealing with bullying and are taking their own lives, and that's just not acceptable."
The rollout of the app will be ongoing as new features continue to be added. The day after its launch, the district introduced a feature that allows students' lunch balances to be paid.
Savoy said a notification center will be implemented that will allow parents and students to receive district news and memos instantaneously.
In January, the app will be synced with the parent self-serve center—where parents can check grades and attendance—currently only available on desktop devices.
