Belton Independent School District is rolling out a brand new tool to quickly combat bullying, in order to improve student safety.
The district introduced the Anonymous Alerts Anti-bullying and Safety App, so students can report negative activity in schools.
Ben Smith is the principal at Belton New Tech High at Waskow. He and his staff said they strongly believe students should always feel safe.
"We want kids to feel welcome when they come into a school building, and having the power to report issues or concerns that might be about them or a friend is important to them," Smith said.
With the app, parents and students can engage in anonymous two-way communication with the district about weapons, bullying, and campus threats.
"When someone submits a report I get a text,” Smith said. “And I get an email and I can address it appropriately."
Bella-Rose Mortel is a senior. She said when she heard about the app she knew it would be a helpful tool for her and her peers.
"It’s a great way to just still be able to have a voice and say something without putting yourself out there, because people can be a little nervous about that," Mortel said.
All district-issued devices will include the Anonymous Alerts App. Parents and staff members can download it on their phones. Submitters can attach a photo, video or screenshot with their reports.
Smith said some people have already started responding to the app.
"We've already had several reports and we are happy with the fact that people are using and trusting the app," Smith said.
Moody ISD also uses the Anonymous Alerts App.