New Cobb tip line lets students report school safety threats by text, call

Cobb County School District is about to launch a school safety tip line that students can use to anonymously report safety concerns. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Credit: JOHN SPINK / AJC

Cobb County School District is about to launch a school safety tip line that students can use to anonymously report safety concerns. JOHN SPINK/JSPINK@AJC.COM

Cobb County students soon will be able to text, email or call in tips about safety threats, bullying and harassment.

The new “SafeSchools Alert” tip line will launch Tuesday, Jan. 22, the Cobb County School District announced Thursday.

Students, employees and parents can report safety concerns by phone, text or email and can do it anonymously if desired, the district said. The district said it will log every tip received through the system and alert the appropriate administrator to investigate it and take any needed action.

“We are seeking information that can allow the school to better address the school climate issues that cause students anxiety or fear and are not being addressed because people are afraid to share the information,” said school police officer Phil Bradford, in a written statement. “We are trying to become more aware of what is going on. We are asking for information from all quarters of the school so we can become preventive, and we can be more proactive.”

The district said tips can include concerns about bullying, harassment, drugs, vandalism, threats of violence, or other safety issues.

Users can download the SafeSchools Alert app for free on their smart phone. They can also call or text tips to 470-689-0298, email 1760@alert1.us or through the website 1760.alert1.us.

When reporting a tip, users should include the Cobb school district’s identification code “1760.”