Midwest City-Del City School District will use website to combat bullying

The school district has entered into a five-year agreement with sprigeo.com, a website that allows students and teachers to report bullying anonymously. All 26 schools in the Mid-Del system will have access to the website.

Sprigeo gets its name from sprig, a part of a tree, and geo, meaning worldwide. The $25,000 subscription was paid for with leftover federal grant money, Mid-Del Schools spokeswoman Kathy Dunn said.

“Sometimes those who are bullied are afraid to report it because they're afraid it may lead to more bullying,” Dunn said. “We thought it was important for students and their parents to have the ability to do it anonymously, with the hope that it will encourage more people to report bullying.”

The reports are sent via email to the school administrator where the bullying occurred. Dunn said the district will then follow up with an investigation. Administrators and teachers are receiving training on how to use the website, and parents and students are being made aware of it as the school year gets under way.

Sprigeo spokesman Aljosha Novakovic said sprigeo.com is being used in about 500 schools in 21 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands.