By Jim Herrin
"STOPit Admin provides efficient and powerful investigative tools to our staff, including the ability to message with the reporter, which will allow us to address issues instantly."

The Putnam County school system has begun using STOPit — a new mobile phone app intended to make it easier for students and others to report threats.
“The app was launched for student use beginning Monday morning,” said Deputy Director of Schools Corby King. “Individual schools have a code for their school that is being provided to the students.”
King said the app “allows students, parents and community members an avenue to report situations they feel are threatening, demeaning or harmful in a manner that allows them to maintain anonymity if they choose.”
He said the service is being paid for with funding from the governor’s school safety grant.
“A core value of the Putnam County school system is that every student has the right to a safe, secure, and challenging learning environment that promotes his or her physical, social, emotional and academic development,” King said. “With the support of students, parents and community members, we believe we can continually improve our school environments so all students feel safe, secure and respected.”
With STOPit, students can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, or video. Administrators are then able to manage incidents in a backend management system called STOPit Admin.
“STOPit Admin provides efficient and powerful investigative tools to our staff, including the ability to message with the reporter, which will allow us to address issues instantly,” King said.
He said the app has other applications as well.
“STOPit will also help us go beyond reacting to bullying and inappropriate behavior, and instead start deterring it,” he said. “As young people continue to engage more with technology every day, we are taking a proactive step to empower our students to be engaged in our community in the way that they feel most comfortable.”
King said students that have mobile devices are encouraged to download the app and use it to report situations where they feel unsafe or when they see things that might be unsafe. Students that do not have access to mobile devices are encouraged to continue reporting situations to a teacher, counselor, administrator, or other staff members they trust.
Curious why over 4,000 organizations worldwide are using STOPit’s anonymous reporting software and 24/7/365 monitoring services?