School District to team with Sandy Hook Promise Foundation

At their first meeting of 2019, the Tehachapi School Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding between Tehachapi Unified School District and Sandy Hook Promise Foundation (SHPF) to educate TUSD middle school and high school students about the Foundation's no-cost Say Something-Anonymous Reporting System (SS-ARS). The program is completely funded by the Sandy Hook Promise Foundation which is based in Newtown, Conn.

Basically, the SS-ARS will instruct students, educators and administrators on how to look for the warning signs, signals and threats, especially in social media, from those who may be a threat to themselves or others. Included in the training would be how to deal with reports of bullying, assault and violence and how to recognize depression and possible suicide. Students will be asked to "Say Something" to a trusted adult and how to use the Anonymous Reporting System dispatcher to get help. The program is expected to begin in March.

Prior to the vote, Trustee Joe Wallek asked for a confirmation that, as stated in the agreement, it is in compliance with the California Education Code and that, in order to maintain security/confidentiality of student records, all student information and records will remain under the control of TUSD.