Focusing on safety

School safety is everyone’s responsibility and a top priority in Zionsville Community Schools. Strong partnerships with the Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) and Boone County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) have provided ZCS with a police presence in each of the nine school buildings. Those relationships, along with the support of the Zionsville Fire Department (ZFD) and other agencies, have allowed us to implement a comprehensive safety program designed to protect staff and students.

Safety is an area of work for schools that has no finish line. District leaders are constantly planning, reviewing, implementing, revising, enhancing and training staff members to prevent and respond to a variety of emergency situations.

Select staff members have completed Indiana’s School Safety Academy and the Advanced Safety Academy and are prepared to assist in crisis.

Safety is a shared responsibility. We rely on families and community members to play an active role in keeping staff and students safe. One way students, families and community members can assist in this effort is to always remember the importance of “see something, say something.” By reporting safety concerns to the schools, you play an integral part of keeping others as safe as possible.

Recently, we implemented STOPit, a new safety reporting tool. This mobile app is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While STOPit may be accessed through a browser, the app is recommended for ease of use, increased functionality and confidential communication. Students and staff can anonymously report school safety issues and reach out for help if in personal crisis. STOPit can also be accessed through the Safety Tip Line on the ZCS and school websites.

STOPit has two important features. The “Report” tool can be used to report incidents to school administrators anonymously. Students are encouraged to report with as much detail as needed, including photos, screen shots and videos. The report is received in real-time, allowing school personnel to quickly respond and begin taking the appropriate action. Because this line is monitored 24/7, in an emergency, the report will be sent to the school and, in some circumstances, law enforcement.

The “Get Help” feature can be used to access local resources such as law enforcement, mental health centers, crisis hotlines, and additional resources.

No student information is needed to use STOPit. The only personally identifiable information collected through STOPit is information that the individual provides voluntarily. We know that when individuals actively follow the “see something, say something,” mantra, we have a greater chance of keeping everyone as safe as possible. We are encouraging students, staff and community members to be familiar with the STOPit reporting tool.