Anonymous tip line for reporting suspicious behavior at LCHS unveiled
Witnesses of troubling words, behaviors or social media posts that could pose a threat to La Cañada High School students can now share what they’ve seen or heard on “Spartan Tip Line,” an anonymous reporting portal started this week.
The tip line has been in the works since parents crowded a Feb. 27 school board meeting to discuss student safety, drug use and the district’s process for investigating threats in the wake of the Feb. 14 Parkland, Fla., school shooting and a series of drug-related incidents on the LCHS campus the previous week.
On March 6, district officials were testing a beta version of the tip line and consulting with attorneys when a juvenile La Cañada High School student was arrested on suspicion of making threats to the campus deemed “credible” by sheriff’s deputies.
Now, parents and students can report bullying, harassment, vandalism, theft and drug and alcohol use and possession on the LCHS 7-12 campus through the high school’s website, lchsspartans.net, or accessing the Google document directly. Comments and information received are confidential and not subject to the California Public Records Request Act.
Once submitted, a report will be investigated by La Cañada Unified School District officials to determine what, if any, appropriate action should be taken. In an email sent to LCHS families on Monday, Jim Cartnal, executive director of pupil and personnel programs and services, encouraged people who may witness threatening behavior to report it.
“If we can share information that intervenes in the dangerous acts of others and saves students from harm, then we owe it to one another to do so,” he said.
Twitter: @SaraCardine
