Wood County Schools Technology Integration Specialists Jimmy Stewart, front, and Eric Murphy, back, gave a presentation Tuesday to the Wood County Board of Education on updates to a video informing students how to use the See Send App. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education viewed an updated video instructing students on the use of an app used to allow students to report potential threats and safety concerns during Tuesday’s regular board meeting.

Wood County Schools Technology Integration Specialists Jimmy Stewart and Eric Murphy gave a presentation on updates to a video informing students how to use the See Send App, also known as the “See Something, Send Something” app that students can use to anonymously send tips to school officials and local authorities about potential problems they might observe, like fellow classmates threatening violence, observing a fellow student in possession of a dangerous item and other concerns within their school.

The app is available on all student-issued iPads and the Wood County Schools website. The students have watched the video at the beginning of each school year for the last three years, Stewart said.

“There have been some changes,” he said of changes in school personnel featured as well as changes in leadership at some of the local law enforcement agencies, all of whom are featured in the video. Chief Shawn Graham of the Williamstown Police Department was added to the video after not being able to previously participate. Officials said he contributed an important aspect to the video.

“In working on this video…we have noticed an increase in some behaviors in the elementary schools,” Murphy said. “We are seeing this increase in students using threatening language, bringing toy weapons which creates safety concerns.

“Even when the intent is not harmful, certain words and certain items can trigger safety protocols and may involve law enforcement or school security to insure the well being of the students and staff.”

Teachers and staff are working with students to help them understand the real world consequences of their actions and strengthening communication with families to reinforce expectations, he said.

In the video, Wood County Sheriff Rick Woodyard said 77% of actual attackers nationwide had communicated with others about their plans, reiterating the need for students to speak up when they see or hear something.

Other potential attackers documented their plans in writing, he said.

“It is important we work together to protect the kids in our schools,” Woodyard said on the video.

Parkersburg Police Chief Matthew Board said, in the video, that information on the app is submitted anonymously to the West Virginia Fusion Center where law enforcement agencies gather information about different criminal activity.

That information will be sent to local agencies who will analyze the information and respond accordingly, Board said on the video.

Vienna Police Chief Carl Powell talked on the video about how agencies protect the information they are given.

“When you provide a tip, all information associated with that tip will be protected and kept strictly confidential,” Powell said in the video.

The app is available through the Wood County Schools app and can be downloaded to someone’s devices.

Graham talked in the video about the words students use at school and how some joke around about bringing a knife to school or joke about hurting someone.

“Maybe it is said out of frustration or maybe you think it is funny or maybe you didn’t mean it at all,” he said in the video. “Here is the truth, those words are taken seriously, every single time.

“When you say something that sounds like a threat, even if it is a joke, it can lead to real consequences. That could be being removed from school, being suspended and even having the police involved. Once those words are said, we just can’t ignore them. We have to act to keep everyone safe. We never assume it is just a joke. We can’t afford to.”

Graham urged kids to think before they speak and to talk to someone if they need to.

“There are better ways to deal with those feelings rather than making threats,” he said in the video. “At the end of the day we are all here for the same reason to make sure your school is a safe place to learn, grow and be yourself.”

The video is available to view on the Wood County School’s website at https://www.woodcountyschoolswv.com under the “Parents” section under the heading “See/Send – Report a Threat.”