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Written by don.harvey
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Wednesday, 19 November 2008 17:23 |
PED sets up a bullying hotline: 1-866-SPEAK UP (773-2587). The program offers students an anonymous tip line to report bullying, threats of weapon-related violence and other crimes at school and in the community.
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: November 19, 2008
New Mexico
Public Education Department
300 Don Gaspar
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501-2786
Dr. Veronica C. GarcÃa www.ped.state.nm.us
Secretary of Education
Andy Lenderman
Public Information Officer
505.476.0393 - 505.795.0182
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Lt. Governor Diane Denish and Secretary of Education
Dr. Veronica C. GarcÃa Announce School Safety Hotline
(Albuquerque, NM) â Lt. Governor Diane Denish joined Public Education Secretary Veronica C. GarcÃa
today to formally announce a new school safety effort, SPEAK UP New Mexico.
The program offers students an anonymous tip line to report threats of weapon-related violence and other
crimes at school and in the community. A media and awareness campaign to promote school safety is
also part of the program.
âNew Mexicoâs citizens are our first line of defense for violence prevention. We want to empower the
community to Speak Up. As Lt. Governor, I am committed to keeping New Mexicoâs families safe,â said Lt.
Governor Diane Denish. âWhile the focus is preventing gun violence, the anonymous tip line also takes
calls to help fight against bullying, vandalism, and crime.â
The hotline (1-866 SPEAK UP) is toll-free, and available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is staffed by
professional crisis counselors and completely anonymous.
âNew Mexico is taking action to promote school safety,â Dr. GarcÃa said. âThis hotline is a valuable tool that
can make our schools and communities more secure, and weâre promoting it around the state.â
Students that call the hotline to report weapon-related threats talk to a counselor. That counselor, after
reminding the caller that the call is anonymous, creates a report for school districts and law enforcement.
Emergency calls are directed to 911.
A 2002 study by the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Department of Education found that in 81 percent of
school shootings, at least one person had information about the attackerâs plans or thoughts beforehand.
âStudents may feel uncomfortable telling adults about potential violence in schools,â Dr. GarcÃa said. âI
want to assure our school communities that this hotline is completely anonymous.â
The Public Education Department is working with the nonprofit PAX/Real Solutions to Gun Violence to
promote the program.
Public service announcements have been sent to New Mexico radio and television stations statewide, and
several 1-866 SPEAK UP billboards have been scheduled for production around New Mexico.
In addition, New Mexico schools will receive posters and wallet cards promoting the hotline. More
information is available at www.speakupnm.org
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 19 November 2008 17:38 |
