Guilford Partners with Sandy Hook Promise on School Safety Plan

GUILFORD, CT - Guilford Public Schools is pleased to announce its partnership with Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a leading gun violence prevention organization, to roll out the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) to students districtwide by early November 2018.

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS) allows students to submit secure and anonymous safety concerns to help identify and intervene with at-risk individuals BEFORE they hurt themselves or others. Concerned students simply submit a tip using the SS-ARS app, website, or by calling a dedicated 24/7 crisis center. SHP’s crisis center then triages the tip and communicates it back to the identified school district contacts and, as needed, to law enforcement.

“Building upon our Say Something program, we are happy to partner with the Guilford Public Schools to help its students be “upstanders” by training them to Know the Signs of potential violence and to say something before a tragedy might occur,” said Nicole Hockley, Managing Director at Sandy Hook Promise and mother to Dylan, who was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. “With SS-ARS, students can now take action to submit a tip anonymously and be sure it is case-managed by schools and local law enforcement. From bullying, to substance abuse to suicide and school shooting threats, schools and communities can take tangible action to prevent violence before it occurs.”

Guilford parent Kristin Song contacted school superintendent Paul Freeman in early spring of this year encouraging the schools to adopt SS-ARS. Since the tragic loss of their 15-year-old son, Ethan, in January, Kristin and Mike Song have established the Ethan Miller Song Foundation dedicated to keeping kids safe. The Foundation’s mission includes gun safety and advocacy, educating on the dangers of opioid abuse, texting and driving and the promotion of the Say Something Anonymous Reporting System.

The Songs were pleased by the enthusiastic response of Dr. Freeman and Chief Hutchinson [Guilford Chief of Police Jeffrey Hutchinson] to implementing the Sandy Hook Anonymous Reporting System. Kristin shared, “When Ethan died, I was desperate to find something that might help/save another child who finds themselves in a situation where an adult needs to be involved. This app allows children, teachers and parents to report dangerous behavior to the appropriate adult who then can intervene. Mike and I feel that had this system been in place Ethan would still be alive today. Every child should be cherished and is important. If this system can help/save one child, then Ethan did not die in vain. Our motto is honor Ethan through action.”

Superintendent Paul Freeman stated, “The Say Something program is just one more way that we can work to keep our students safe. Whether it is from bullying or from any other threat, we strive to make our community safer and more supportive of all students.”

School officials and the Guilford Police Department are hopeful that the new system will encourage reporting of threats of violence, suicide or self-harm, and other behavior including harassment and substance abuse.

“I am proud to be a member of the Board of Education in a district so committed to the health and safety of our children,” said Guilford Board of Education member Christine Cohen. “This is a wonderful initiative that allows the community (parents, students and teachers), to have a voice when it might feel otherwise threatening to speak up. It is one step in a series of many as we continue to prioritize the fostering of a caring and nurturing school environment.”

Guilford Chief of Police Jeffrey Hutchinson said, “The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is a proven program that provides additional opportunities for students to share important information with law enforcement that they might not have otherwise shared. Getting this information early is critical to achieving our goals of investigating and intervening early enough to make a difference. The Guilford Police Department looks forward to partnering with our schools, our students, and with Sandy Hook Promise on this most important initiative."

Guilford Board of Education Vice Chair Gary Kaisen believes SS-ARS will give Guilford Public Schools another tool for the district priority of improving students’ mental health stating, “It [SS-ARS] facilitates students advising of potential “red flags” giving a more direct path of insight into potential safety concerns. This will help us prevent a safety concern from growing into a safety issue.”

The Say Something Anonymous Reporting System is managed and maintained by a national digital leader in the school safety space and a 24/7 Crisis Center who is a national compliance leader, both have 20+ years of experience. SHP provides overall management and training of SS-ARS to school districts and students and pays for 100% of the costs through donations, grants, and other gifts, to train and sustain the program in a school district.

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) is a national, nonprofit organization based in Newtown, Connecticut. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012, that claimed the lives of 20 first-graders and 6 educators. SHP is focused on preventing gun violence (and other forms of violence and victimization) before it happens by educating and mobilizing youth and adults on mental health and wellness programs that identify, intervene and help at-risk individuals.

For more information, visit www.sandyhookpromise.org or call 203-304-9780.