MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake School District officials are encouraging students, parents and community members to use the district's STOPit reporting platform to share concerns about school safety, bullying and student well-being.

The renewed focus on the reporting system follows a recent community safety town hall, where district leaders discovered many attendees were unfamiliar with the tool, according to Director of Public Relations Ryan Shannon.

“We wanted people to know this system is available to our community and to the parents for a multitude of different issues,” Shannon said.

STOPit allows users to submit concerns directly to school officials, either anonymously or with their contact information. While district leaders encourage families and students to speak directly with principals, teachers or administrators whenever possible, Shannon said the app provides an alternative for people who may not feel comfortable coming forward publicly.

“It is an anonymous reporting system that directly connects the reporter with a building administrator that is assigned that report or whatever that information is,” he said.

Shannon said the platform can be used to report far more than immediate safety threats. Reports can include concerns about bullying, harassment, student mental health, vaping, fights or other behaviors that may affect the school environment.

“If you feel that somebody needs additional emotional support, or you saw somebody that you thought in your mind was being bullied or intimidated, or you heard about a potential gang incident, or just any kind of altercation, those are the things that can be reported,” Shannon said.

The district's recent outreach campaign also aims to remind users that anonymous reports often require follow-up. According to Shannon, one challenge arises when a report lacks enough information for school officials to investigate fully.

“If the building receives information and it's not sufficient enough information, or we require additional information to maybe dig a little deeper or further an investigation, there's no way for us to reach that person because it is anonymous,” he said.

For that reason, district officials are encouraging users to check back after submitting reports in case administrators request additional details through the platform.

When reports are received, they are routed to school administrators for review. Shannon said the response varies depending on the nature of the complaint. Some concerns may be handled by administrators or counselors, while others could require involvement from law enforcement.

“If the threat is a high enough alert, for example, if someone was talking about somebody harming another person, that automatically triggers a phone call from the company that manages the platform,” Shannon said.

The district has used information submitted through STOPit to investigate reports of threats, vaping and altercations on school campuses. Shannon said the tool allows administrators to respond more quickly and determine whether reported concerns are credible.

“We've had cases like that come before through the system that have allowed us to move quicker and determine that these situations are unfounded,” he said.

Shannon also encouraged community members to report concerns directly to the district rather than posting them on social media.

“The information that you use or share through STOPit, or just even calling the school in general, reaches the building and reaches the correct personnel faster,” he said.

Ultimately, Shannon said the goal is ensuring concerns reach the people equipped to investigate and respond.

“If you see something or if you hear something, report it,” he said.

More information about the STOPit reporting system is available at mlsd161.org/safetyconcerns.