tip411 recently interviewed Michael Grennes, the Security & Safety Director for the MSD of Boone Township School Corporation in Indiana. The district serves students in Hebron, Indiana, and is dedicated to maintaining a safe and supportive learning environment for its students. In response to a new state law restricting cellphone use during school hours, Grennes and his team implemented an innovative solution to ensure students could still report important information through the tip411 app. Here’s what he shared about their successful approach and the impact it has had on their schools.
Q: What prompted your school to add a tip411 link to Chromebooks?
A: Indiana recently passed a law restricting student use of cellphones during the school day. Since tip411 is a key tool for students to report important information, we wanted to ensure this policy didn’t hinder their ability to use the app. Every student in grades 6-12 has a Chromebook, so we decided to add a tip411 link to their devices to encourage reporting.
Q: How was the tip411 link implemented on student Chromebooks?
A: We added the tip411 link to the bookmark page on all student Chromebooks. This made the tool easily accessible and ensured students could report tips directly from their devices while at school.
Q: Has the addition of the tip411 link been successful?
A: Yes, the results have been remarkable. By early November, we had already received 58 tips this school year, compared to 38 tips for the entire previous year. Out of these, 37 tips came through the Chromebook link. It’s clear that this adjustment has made it easier and more convenient for students to report information.
Q: What types of tips have you received, and how does this help the school?
A: The tips vary widely, but we are encouraging students to report things like bullying, threats, suspicious activity, and anything that might make them or their friends feel unsafe. The key takeaway is that students are using the system more frequently to share information. This helps improve school safety and ensures concerns are addressed more proactively.
Q: Would you recommend this approach to other schools?
A: Absolutely. Especially for schools where cellphone use is restricted during the day, adding a tip411 link to Chromebooks or similar devices is a simple yet highly effective way to encourage students to report incidents. It’s been a game-changer for us and could benefit others as well.