See a Danger or Threat? STOP! and Call
Since taking office at the end of 2019, Governor Andy Beshear has consistently reaffirmed his commitment to the safety of Kentucky’s children while at school. Following the devastating shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, Kentucky parents and school officials alike have found their concerns about school safety renewed.
Among the many resources to ensure the daily safety of Kentucky’s schoolchildren is the STOP! Tip line, monitored by the Kentucky Office of Homeland Security (KOHS).
What is the STOP! Tip line?
The STOP! (Safety Tip Line, Online Prevention!) Tip line is for Kentuckians to use if they learn of threats or situations that may cause danger to the state’s schools. The tip line was created by the Kentucky Center for School Safety in 2013, before legislation transferred it to KOHS in 2019.
The tip line’s website states that Kentuckians should, “use this tip line to report bullying, violence or other school issues.” The online form is found at safeschools.ky.gov, as well as on each of the participating school districts’ websites.
The tip line also has a phone number— (866) 393-6659—that Kentuckians can call or text, as well as an online form that can be filled out. Those who use the tip line have the option to report their concerns anonymously or to be contacted.
KOHS School Safety Analyst Jennifer Taylor said, “anytime [someone] feels like there is something that needs to be told, then they should just go ahead and report it.”
How does the tip line work?
As the beginning of the school year quickly approaches, the safety of Kentucky’s schoolchildren is foremost in the minds of the commonwealth’s educators and state officials alike. The STOP! Tip line is another resource that can be used to offer even greater protection.
Individuals reporting information to the tip line first choose the relevant school district, school and grade. Once these are selected, those reporting choose whether their information falls into one of three categories: bullying, violence, or other. The “other” category “includes anything from threat of self-harm to not liking homework assignments.”
The report is immediately sent to a duty analyst like Taylor at KOHS, as well as whomever the school district has designated to receive the STOP! information. These can be administrators, school resource officers, or counselors. Once a school receives the tip, KOHS lets the school handle the issue, unless further assistance is required.
According to Taylor, there were 1,621 tips reported during the 2021-2022 school year. Of these reports, 42% concerned bullying, 10% were concerning violence and 48% were in the “other” category.
Taylor states the tip line has been effective. While reporting possible dangers within a school will keep children safe, it also ensures that help is given to those who need it.
“There have been incidents where things have been reported concerning behavior that resulted in an investigation and getting students help that they may not have otherwise received had it not been reported,” Taylor said.
If you or someone you know learns of information that could put a school in immediate danger, 911 should be the first number one calls. Do not hesitate to use the STOP! Tip line if information is learned that puts schools in danger. The online form can be found at safeschools.ky.gov or on each schools’ website. Those needing the tip line can also call or text (866) 393-6659.
Kentucky’s Commitment to School Safety
Gov. Andy Beshear signed House Bill 63 into law in April 2022, which introduces new school resource officer (SRO) requirements for school districts. The new law requires that each campus have an SRO by Aug. 1, 2022, if possible. The law further provides that, “if sufficient funds and qualified personnel are not available for this purpose for every campus, the local board of education shall fulfill the requirements of this subsection on a per-campus basis, as approved in writing by the state school security marshal, until a certified school resource officer is assigned to and working on-site, full-time on each campus in the district.”
The Department of Criminal Justice Training provides SROs with 120 hours of specialized training in addition to basic law enforcement response for working in schools, including mental health awareness classes, skills for working with special needs students, cultural diversity and active shooter response.
"The number of tragedies prevented by an officer’s presence and positive relationships built within schools cannot be quantified,” said State School Security Marshal Ben Wilcox. “SROs provide a triad approach to school safety – they are an integral part of a collaborative school safety plan that includes mental health providers, access control and relationships with first responders."
The Office of the State School Security Marshal was created after the passage of the School Safety and Resiliency Act in 2019. According to the OSSSM website, the act “establishes the position of the school security marshal in DOCJT [Department of Criminal Justice Training], who will oversee school security-risk assessments, and mandates specialized training for SROs.”
Wilcox also said children in schools are some of the best at letting adults know when something is not right.
“Some of our best helpers in making sure schools are being compliant are our children,” he said. “They know that classroom doors are supposed to be shut, and if they are not, they are the first to say ‘hey, shouldn’t the door be closed?’ Children may not know exactly why the safety measures are in place, but they do recognize when the rules are not being followed.”
Children understand that rules must be followed, and as such are able to make sure that they are. They stay vigilant, something that Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for School Safety Jon Akers feels every Kentuckian should do.
“We can all play a role in school safety by remaining vigilant and keeping a constant flow of communication between school and law enforcement officials from students, parents, school staff, and the entire community,” he said.
Akers said that to prevent tragedies like the one in Uvalde, the general public must “teach kids right from wrong. Teach life is precious.” He stressed that “my mantra to anyone who will listen is ‘if you see something, say something’ because it is everyone’s responsibility to keep our children as safe as possible whether they are at home, in the community or in the classroom at school.”
