Tuscaloosa County Schools Offering Tip Line For Students’ Safety

By WVUA23 Digital Reporter Khara Gibson-Taylor

The Tuscaloosa County School System has partnered with school safety technology company Gaggle, to provide SpeakUp for Safety, a tip line for students, parents and school employees.

TCSS and Gaggle will provide a safe and effective way for students to confidentially report threats of violence, bullying, peers in trouble and other risks through the SpeakUp for Safety tip line.

Gaggle will allow students to contact the SpeakUp tip line through email, phone call, or text message. Students will not need to download an application on their mobile devices. The tip line system is integrated into Office 365, to which TCSS students already have access.

Once students compose an email to the SpeakUp tip line, an instant response will be sent back with a phone number to send a text message or make a phone call.

Trained Gaggle safety representatives examine information that comes into the tip line 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Gaggle will notify school staff regarding non-life-threatening instances. In severe cases, a district member will be notified immediately. In imminent circumstances, Gaggle will contact law enforcement to intervene if they are unable to get in contact with a district member.

Since 1999, Gaggle has worked to support K-12 school districts to manage student safety on school-provided technology. Using artificial intelligence and trained safety experts, Gaggle proactively helps students in the prevention of suicide, violence, bullying, and other harmful environments at school.

SpeakUp for Safety Contact Information

Email address: speakup@tcss.net

Call or text: 659-734-2808