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By Lisa Parent

EDUCATION

Medicine Hat Public School Division launches anonymous reporting pilot program

May 14, 2024 | 4:55 PM

The Medicine Hat Public School division has partnered with a reporting software organization to launch a pilot program this spring it hopes will create a safer environment at school.

PSST World will allow students to anonymously report anything that is worrisome directly to school staff online.

PSST, or Promoting Safer Schools Together, is currently rolled out in public division middle and high schools.

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Students can provide their name in the report or remain anonymous. Staff are then able to follow up by supporting the students or find help with the school resource officers.

Claire Peterson, director of psychology services at the school division, said she plans to survey the students when the trial period ends in June and see if the anonymous reporting initiative is useful to them.

“Kids are really relying on each other and sharing information but not necessarily bringing it to adults, and so we wanted to make sure that they had another avenue to do that if they had things they wanted to tell us,” Peterson said.

Since the program launched on April 1, the public school division has received over 70 online reports.

Anonymous reports can be made here.