A Brooklyn middle school has a new high-tech weapon in its war on bullying.
David A. Boody Intermediate School 228 in Gravesend, which started a schoolwide campaign against bullying six years ago, now uses an app that allows students, parents and teachers to report bullying confidentially.
“It’s a tool of empowerment,” said PTA president Heather Fiorica, 40. “The sense of helplessness that a child feels when they’re being bullied is no longer there.”
The app, Bridg-iT, was piloted last May and June and is available in Spanish, French and Russian. IS 228 is the only school using it, said Jeff Ervine, 48, who developed the tool targeted to bystanders.
Witnesses to, or victims of, a bullying incident can tap an icon on a smartphone or computer, fill out a form that asks for details, and email it to school authorities. Officials can then take appropriate action without revealing who filed the report.
“We want the bystanders to be upstanders as far as reporting and take leadership roles in saying, ‘I’m not going to accept this type of behavior toward my friend or this person,’ ” said Principal Dominick D’Angelo, 49.
Students have filed five reports since the app’s launch. D’Angelo declined to provide details about the cases but said bullies backed off and their behavior improved after mentors were assigned to work with them.
Bridg-iT has been a game changer in the school’s war on bullying, D’Angelo said.
“The main thing is, we need to emphasize to the students that this type of behavior is not acceptable and we’re clearly watching you,” he said.
