Next week the Glynn County, Georgia, School System plans to launch STOPit, a technology platform aimed at helping schools stay on top of bullying and cyber abuse, as well of threats of violence, self-harm, and other inappropriate behaviors.
Students can submit anonymous reports containing text, photos, or video to school administrators through the platform. Teachers then have the ability to message the reporters and conduct investigations.
The STOPit program launch is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 8, and it will be piloted for students in grades 5-12. The mobile app can be downloaded through the Apple Store and on Google Play.
Dr. David Chesire associate professor, University of Florida Health Jacksonville; Neil Hooper, Chief Operating Officer, STOPit; and, Bryna Rodenhizer, a contributor to the Jacksonville Moms Blog, discussed the app and the effects of bullying.
Climate Change and Health
Policy makers and physicians are seeing climate change as a public health issue. Dr. Todd L. Sack, Medical Director, We Care at Borland-Groover Clinic; and Mayor Nancy Shaver of St. Augustine talked about local action.
The city of Jacksonville’s Adaptation Area Action Working Group is being created to help local planning for energy and resilience in Jacksonville. The first public meeting of the group will be in February; the date is not yet announced.
Mayor Shaver said she’s volunteering to help Jacksonville plan.
“We don’t have time, quite frankly, for a 20-year plan,” Shaver said.
Meanwhile, St. Augustine will hold sustainability workshops with local business leaders and the community this Thursday, Jan. 31, with an international conference on how to preserve historic structures, Keeping History Above Water, scheduled for the Nation’s Oldest City in early May.
Moveable Feast
For our look at dining and entertainment trends around town, Leigh Cort of the Women’s Food Alliance talked to Wen Raiti of the House of Leaf and Bean. The restaurant on Beach Boulevard at San Pablo Road offers organic foods and drinks.
Thin Mint Sprint
Girls Scout Cookie season has officially started, which means the Thin Mint Sprint and Cookie Crawl is coming up. The Thin Mint Sprint is a 5k, and the Cookie Crawl is 1-mile run. The races are Saturday, Feb. 23, starting at 7:30 a.m. at the St. Johns Town Center in Jacksonville.
Jennifer Sicotte, spokeswoman for Girl Scouts of Gateway Council, joined us with more information about the Girl Scouts.
Amanda Brannon can be reached at newsteam@wjct.org, 904-358-6317.
