Carlsbad Schools Use Anonymous Tip Line to Report Bullying, Drugs, Weapons and Other Issues

(CUSD) has partnered with We Tip to promote safety, security and compliance with the law on all 14 sites, K-12. We Tip supplements the secondary-oriented Students Speaking Out (SSO) program implemented by the District last year at Aviara Oaks, Calavera Hills and Valley Middle Schools, Carlsbad High School and Carlsbad Village Academy. Both programs are free to the District. We Tip and SSO mesh to provide a strong redundancy in terms of student safety while offering a variety of access points and issue coverage.

We Tip is a national program featuring anonymous telephone tip lines that students, families, staff and the general public can easily access to report incidents of bullying, drugs, vandalism and weapons on campus, without fear of retribution. Information on workplace issues such as fraud, embezzlement and a hostile work environment also can be reported confidentially.

According to Assistant Superintendent, Business Services, Devin Vodicka, Ed.D., We Tip provides an added layer of protection to students, staff and schools. He reports, “The SSO program, which operates with Crimestoppers and utilizes phone, web and text reporting options, was initiated at CUSD last year through a partnership with the Carlsbad Police Department. Shortly after implementing it, we expeditiously identified and comprehensively dealt with a drug situation at Calavera Hills Elementary School.”

CHMS Assistant Principal Carol LaBreche recalls, “We learned through our CPD School Resource Officer Edith Cobian that a small group of students was passing around marijuana on campus. Once we began speaking to students, we ascertained that the tip was accurate and we gathered sufficient evidence to take appropriate corrective actions, including suspensions.”         

Anonymous Reporting Leads to Enhanced Trust

La Breche says that among the many positive results of SSO, the program has enhanced trust on campus between students and staff. She explains, “Having seen the positive impact of anonymous tipping, our students now feel more confident and secure coming directly to us to report an array of problems, including bullying. They know that their privacy and confidentiality will be maintained and are thus more apt to confide in us and share their concerns.”

District Superintendent John A. Roach, Ed.D. says that We Tip, SSO and other District programs and policies, including school safety notifications regarding regulations governing registered sex offenders, combine to promote safer campuses. He states, “Our goal is to ensure an abundance of ways in which issues can be brought to the attention of school officials and law enforcement to serve as a deterrent and also to enhance our abilities to intervene when needed.” 

He believes, “We are fortunate to be situated in a City such as Carlsbad with a strong, proactive police department and to be part of a community that sees all children as ‘our’ children.”

–CUSD press release