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District introduces StopIt anonymous reporting and districtwide threat-assessment teams
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Summary
The South Orange–Maplewood School District described a districtwide behavioral threat-assessment program and introduced the StopIt anonymous reporting app to let students and families report bullying or threats; officials said incoming reports are reviewed and warned that false police reports are illegal.
The South Orange–Maplewood School District on Tuesday outlined new safety measures that pair a districtwide behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) program with the StopIt anonymous reporting app to capture early warnings of bullying, threats and other concerning behaviors.
Paul Morgan, the district’s director of school and community safety, said the BTAM work has standardized training across schools and trained multidisciplinary teams that include child-study staff, school administrators, teachers and coaches. "BTAM focuses on identifying concerning behaviors, early intervention, and really just getting ahead of things before they progress and escalate," Morgan said, describing the goal as preventing incidents through early identification.
A two-minute video shown during the town hall explained how StopIt lets students and families file reports containing messages, photos or video. "StopIt is 100% anonymous, period. End of story," the video said. Morgan and panelists said that all incoming reports are reviewed promptly and routed to the appropriate response teams so staff can follow up when warranted.
Panelists emphasized StopIt is intended to complement — not replace — trusted adults. Ashaya Draper, the district’s director of communications, noted the district is encouraging students to also reach out to school staff and counselors as a first option when safe to do so. Morgan added the app includes warnings that making a false police report is against the law.
The district also plans supporting materials and training tied to the program: videos and posters will be available on the district website and embedded in classroom instruction and substitute orientations. Morgan said the district will continue to monitor how the app is used and to provide families with guidance on when to report anonymously and when to seek direct assistance from school staff.
The town hall presentation said the BTAM training and StopIt rollout are part of a broader set of safety measures the district is pursuing alongside mental-health screening, restorative practices and social-emotional learning.
