Bogus threat at Kiski Area High School raises concern about Safe2Say app

Kiski Area School District administrators are concerned about the unintended consequences of Pennsylvania’s anonymous reporting app, Safe2Say Something, after a noncredible threat prompted a lockdown this week.

The incident raises concern among administrators, who fear the anonymous nature of Safe2Say leads to more hoax claims and pranks.

Kiski Area Superintendent Tim Scott said he hears Safe2Say being used as a joke among students.

He wonders if local law enforcement would be able to trace the tip to the phone number or IP address to track down the person who made a false claim.

“If kids are using it as a measure to get retribution on other kids, I hope that there is a process we can follow,” Scott said. “If it was a hoax, we want to try to bring some accountability to that.”

Safe2Say Something is a safety-tip reporting system through which students can anonymously report harassment, bullying, violence or other threats to school administrators.

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office unveiled the program in January 2019 for use in all public schools. In its first year, the app received more than 40,000 tips.

The Attorney General’s Office said in a statement that local law enforcement can bring charges for false reporting as they see fit. The office pointed to an incident in Scranton last year in which it worked with local police, the district attorney and carriers when IP addresses were determined. Scranton police made arrests in connection with the fraudulent tips.

“There are serious consequences for sending false tips through Safe2Say,” the office said in the statement.

Kiski Area High School issued a lockdown Tuesday afternoon. The school kept students out of hallways so they could investigate a threat of an “act of violence” reported through Safe2Say. When administrators received the notification from the app, they said the threat came under the app’s “active shooter” category heading.

During the lockdown, students continued through class while local law enforcement swept the building. After the class period ended and no threat was found, the students were able to transition to their next class but were not able to visit lockers or restrooms in between.

After students were sent home for the day, police dogs and officers from Pennsylvania’s Region 13 counter-terrorism task force searched the building for any sign of firearms.

While the threat was deemed not credible, an added police presence continued throughout the school day Wednesday.

School asked for further tips, got none

Chad Roland, Kiski Area High School principal, said the app allows administrators to respond to and engage with tipsters, to ask follow-up questions and further investigate claims. The tipsters, still anonymous, are able to respond back and forth with administrators.

But no one responded to the administrators’ queries regarding Tuesday’s threat, Roland said.

“If someone was truly concerned about a situation, they would be a little more engaged and give us more details about it,” Roland said. “To me, that’s the difference between someone trying to help and be productive and somebody simply trying to cause alarm.”

Roland asked students to report any knowledge of the threat reported to Safe2Say so the district can try to figure out who made the claim and why.

Hall pass, restroom use tightened

Incidents like these prompt reflection on school procedures, Roland said. Administrators are always looking for ways to improve safety.

In a statement he read to students Wednesday morning, Roland said from now on, hall pass usage in the building will be much stricter, as well as bathroom availability.

“Please understand that these procedures are intended to ensure the safety and accountability of staff,” he read.