Kyrene School District will launch a new anonymous reporting system in the 2025-26 school year, providing an additional layer of safety for students and staff. Speak Up Kyrene will allow students, families and community members to confidentially report safety issues or mental health concerns around the clock.

Reports can include bullying, substance abuse, thoughts of self-harm, weapons or other threats to campus. Users will be able to submit tips online, via phone or by text message 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

“Right now, during the day, we have pretty good systems for managing and responding to things that come in,” said Damian Nichols, Executive Director of Information Technology and School Safety, during an April 8 presentation to the Kyrene Governing Board. “This is really about the after hours, weekends and holidays when we just don’t have staff monitoring things in the middle of the night.”

The Kyrene Governing Board approved the launch of Speak Up Kyrene at its April 22 board meeting.

In addition to threat reporting, Speak Up Kyrene will provide a direct line to social-emotional support services. Students in crisis will have immediate access to highly trained, licensed counselors fluent in English and Spanish, with translation support available in more than 600 other languages.

“These counselors are not only educated and experienced but specifically trained to support students experiencing personal crises like suicidal ideation or feelings of hopelessness,” said Sandra Laine, Executive Director of Academic Equity and Excellence. “They are prepared to intervene in the moment and ensure students are never alone, no matter the hour.”

When tips involve life-threatening concerns, the crisis center will notify designated Kyrene staff after hours or contact 911 in cases of imminent danger. All reports are triaged and assessed for risk, with next steps coordinated between crisis counselors and Kyrene personnel.

Speak Up Kyrene will be powered by Navigate360, a platform Kyrene already uses for threat assessment and emergency preparedness, and the call center will be run by the nonprofit organization Sandy Hook Promise. The organization, founded by families affected by the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, focuses on preventing violence through early intervention and community engagement. Kyrene’s selection of the vendor followed a comprehensive review process.

“Our team wanted to ensure the platform wasn’t just efficient but trauma-informed and student-centered,” said Kelley Kimbrell, lead psychologist for Kyrene School District. “We reviewed several systems and chose one that aligned with both our clinical standards and our district’s values around care and prevention.”

Training and education will be a key component of the system’s rollout. Students will receive guidance on the responsible use of the platform ahead of its expected August launch, and the district will host a Positive Parenting event to introduce the tool to families and community members. The date for that event is still to be announced.

“We always say, ‘report, don’t repost,’ and now we’re providing the tool to make those reports safely and effectively,” Laine said. “Students play a vital role in maintaining safe and supportive schools, and Speak Up Kyrene will empower them to take that role seriously.”

Nichols added that this launch is one more step in Kyrene’s layered approach to student safety.

“We are constantly adding to our safety and security systems,” he said. “That includes both the physical protections on campus and the psychological supports that help students feel safe and supported.”

Speak Up Kyrene will be accessible via the Kyrene School District website beginning in August.