The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District is offering its students, parents, and teachers a new way to report bullying. Concerned individuals can use the “Bully Button,” which is featured on the district’s website, smjuhsd.k12.ca.us, to fill out and submit a report of bullying.
In a release to the media, Superintendent Mark Richardson said the online reporting tool will help the district comply with a state law that mandates schools have a process to report bullying.
“This is just another way to ensure that our students are focused on learning the skills they will need in life and are not distracted by bullies,” Richardson said in the release. “It’s very difficult to deal with behavior like this if it is not reported.”
The app was launched at Righetti High School in April and is a collaboration between Righetti counselor Eric Blanco and the company that made it, Texas-based Ejucomm.
The app has had more than 7,000 views, though no information on the Bully Button is currently available.
Apps for the other high schools, including Santa Maria, Pioneer Valley, and Delta, are in the discussion stages. Pioneer is expected to be the next pilot site.
According to school officials, students who misuse the Bully Button reporting system can face disciplinary action.
This article appears in Jan 24-31, 2013.