TIP411: Anonymous Texting program The week of October 17th, Knox County Schools and the Knox County Sheriff’s Office rolled out an anonymous texting program in middle and high schools. This allows students, parents, or employees to report situations in the schools that may make them unsafe or uncomfortable. The program is anonymous and the person sending the text will not be known. The TIP411 system has the capability for the call taker to engage the “texter” in an on-line conversation. The call taker will attempt to gain information and in-site regarding the nature of the text. This also allows the call taker to be a referral service for “texter’s” needing other type assistance.   All legitimate tips will be responded to as soon as possible. The tip line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week by either authorized security personnel or sheriff department employees. The TIP411 information is also shared with schools having Knoxville Police Department officers assigned. All necessary information is shared between school security, sheriffs and police details working within the schools.   To use the TIP411 system someone merely texts the number 487411, keyword: knoxschools, then space and start the message. In many cases, the call taker will respond back within a couple of minutes trying to establish contact with texter for any further information they feel necessary. Remember all tips are anonymous so texters should feel free to respond to the call taker.   Knox County Schools will continue to look for ways to increase the safety of our schools. We feel this is one way we can use a technology that our students feel comfortable using to further that goal. As always, the Knox County Schools Security Department can be reached day or night using 594-3624.

Welcome Back students and staff
Hope everyone, students staff, parents and employees have had a wonderful summer.  As we begin another year of school we in security would like to take a minute to welcome everyone back and talk to you about a couple of things.
 
Parents please know that we will be continuing our Random Weapons Search procedures this year (See Knox County Board of Education Random Search Policy). We feel it is a valuable tool in our school security tool box. Take a minute to talk to your student about items that they need to take to school versus things that have no place at school. Sometime during the school year your middle or high school will be part of the weapons search. Please don't worry you should receive a message from the school administration after the search explaining what was happening that morning at your school. This will mark the third year of the Random Weapons Search policy and we think it has been successful.
 
Chance's are that sometime during the school year your child's middle or high school will be part of a K-9 Drug Search (See Knox County Board of Education Drug Use Policy). Most of the time these searches are random in nature but if needed we can bring the K-9 to search specific areas of the school. The Knox Co. Schools have been doing the drug dog searches since 1989. Tell your student that they have nothing to fear from the K-9 's due to the fact our procedure keeps student and staff away from the animals when on our campus'. Again you should receive some type of message or announcement after the search has been concluded.
 
Last but not least please take a moment to talk to your student about bullying. (Knox County Board of Education Bullying Policy).  Both physical and cyberbullying are concerns for everyone in the system. Explain to them that if they are a victim or witness to either type of bullying they need to let an adult know about what's happening. They can tell you the parent or report what they have seen to any adult at school. It is very important that all our children know that in most  bullying situations it takes someone with the "power to intervene" to ensure the proper solution.
 
Please feel free to contact our office at 594-3624 with any question or concern you may have about anything regarding your student's or your school's safety and security. All our emails are on the school website and that's always a good way to get us. Thank you for all you do for us and let's have a great year.

Steve Griffin
Chief of Security
Knox County Schools

  Safety Review Committee

The Safety Review Committee met Monday and Tuesday, March 1 & 2, to begin thier work. Dr. Jim McIntyre, Superintendent of the Knox County Schools, announced the formation of a Safety Review Committee to review, analyze and assess our current school security protocols and human resource procedures and suggest enhancements for improving overall staff and student safety. The Safety Review Committee is composed of two subcommittees: human resources work group, and safety and security work group. The committee began its work on Monday, March 1 and Tuesday, March 2, 2010. “This strong and knowledgeable group of professionals represents significant expertise that will concentrate on how we can best provide a safe and secure learning environment for our students, staff, and the community,” said Dr. McIntyre. “Our goal is to evaluate and improve the Knox County Schools’ human resources and security practices in a strategic and purposeful manner, then to be very transparent in sharing those findings with our community.”	Dr. James McIntrye, superintendent, listens as Gibbs Elementary Principal Adam Parker makes a point to the group. Audio of March 2 afternoon session Click to listen (Approximately 22 minutes) This is the afternoon media session March 2, 2010. Voices in the audio: Dr. James McIntryre Superintendent K=nox County Schools Dr. Ron Stephens Co-Chair Executive Director National School Safety Center Dr. Deborah Stairs Co-Chair Director Human Resources Oak Ridge National Laboratories Related Links: Agreement among Knox County Schools, Knox County Sheriff's Department, Knoxville City Police
Committee Members Dr. Ron Stephens Executive Director, National School Safety Center Dr. Deborah Stairs  Director, Human Resources ORNL Human Resources Subcommittee Dr. Kathy Sims Executive Director Human Resources, Knox County Schools Dr. June Keel Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Metro Nashville Public Schools Linda Hendricks Vice President of Human Resources, University of Tennessee Pam Missett Manager of Human Resources Consulting Services, ORNL Jessica Holman President Knox County Education Association Adam Parker Principal, Gibbs Elementary School Steve Griffin Chief of Security, Knox County Schools Capt. Nate Allen Criminal Investigations/Homeland Security, Knoxville Police Department Christy Barton President, South-Doyle Middle School  PTA Safety and Security Subcommittee Lt. Chris Holloway Supervisor School Resource Officers, Knox County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Tammy Chaney Supervisor School Resource Officers, Knoxville Police Department Rodney Beverly Deputy Chief of Security, Knox County Schools William Crook Chief of Security, Metro Nashville Public Schools Melissa Johnson Principal, Christenberry Elementary School