By ETHAN HARTLEY Warwick educators have access to a unique advantage over other districts in the state when it comes to shoring up school safety. The Mutual Link system connects police, fire and EMS services with the schools so that, through the use of a
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Warwick educators have access to a unique advantage over other districts in the state when it comes to shoring up school safety. The Mutual Link system connects police, fire and EMS services with the schools so that, through the use of a free smart phone app, every individual teacher and administrator within every school can immediately sound an alarm and give security camera access and real-time geolocation data to first responders in the event of an unthinkable tragedy, like a natural disaster or active shooting.
One must ask then, why, since the district started tracking the use of the app within the city in September, have only 40 percent of total school personnel actually downloaded the app?
According to a data sheet prepared for the Dec. 11 meeting of the Warwick School Committee, participation from school faculty downloading the “Rave Panic Button” app fluctuates greatly from school to school, with the top two facilities being the Warwick Early Learning Center at John Brown Francis (84 percent participation) and Cedar Hill Elementary (63 percent).
Scott Elementary School is at the lowest participation rate by far, with only 16 percent of school personnel having the app as of Dec. 7. This number is the same as when a count was taken the month prior on Nov. 7. At its lowest, only 9 percent of school personnel at Scott had downloaded the app as of Oct. 15, 2018.
“God forbid there is ever an event at our schools, 16 percent isn't going to help those kids,” said School Committee member David Testa during their Dec. 11 meeting. “That's my point. Responsibility of protecting students starts with adults, and ends with adults. I don't mean to scold, but I don't get this.”
The low numbers of participation might make more sense if the Mutual Link system and corresponding app were introduced recently, but Mutual Link launched in November of 2016, with a district-wide effort to emphasize the importance of participating in the system starting in March of 2017, according to the superintendent’s office. Individual school administrators and secretaries were trained even earlier than that.
According to Warwick Teachers’ Union president Darlene Netcoh, she believes many teachers are simply unaware of what the app does and how they can go about getting it.
“I think it got by people,” she said. “There are people who are not technologically savvy. Believe it or not we do have people with flip phones, or no phones.”
Superintendent Philip Thornton said that in addition to multiple emails that have gone out to staff regarding specific instructions on how to download the app and how to sign up for the system – including a YouTube video that provides a detailed demonstration – all staff and faculty have to do in order to get registered for the Rave app is download it from the app store (for free) and then reach out to Camely Machado, the manager of non-instructional student services, who will go through the signup and verification process for them.
“The only thing I don't do is physically put it on their phone,” Machado said.
A possible reason for low participation could be numerous rumors spread around that the app will eat up large percentages of battery, that it takes up large amounts of storage or can be remotely used to spy on teachers through the geolocation capabilities of the app.
All of these rumors have no basis in reality, according to both Thornton and police personnel, who in the past during training sessions with administrators have implored the importance of downloading the app to make the Mutual Link system function as intended. The app only uses battery when open, like any other mobile app, takes up only about 25 megabytes of storage (the Amazon app, by comparison, uses about 100) and the geo tracking only turns on when the app is in active use.
“There has been a lot of misinformation on this,” Thornton said.
Thornton said that every school in the district underwent training with the Warwick Police Department this fall on “Run, Hide, Fight” protocol, the national standard for response to an active threat within a building such as a school. He said officers implored faculty again to download the app during this training.
“[Getting the word out] has been done multiple times in different formats, whether it's electronic, personal, professional development,” said Thornton. “Having said that, we will keep providing support until we have more folks who are on the system. It's about the safety of everyone.”
“The only reason you should not have this app on your phone, is if you don't have a phone, in my humble opinion,” Testa said.
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Cat2222
No one believes that 60% of the teachers don't have a phone, Darlene. Nor do they believe they are unaware since apparently "every school in the district underwent training with the Warwick Police Department this fall".
Please, may they never have to use it but just in case, this should be 100% for every phone user that works in a school in Warwick. A free tool that could potentially be life-saving not just for your but the entire school and it isn't a priority to have on your phone? Can't relate.
Thursday, December 20, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Cat,
Looks like a little finger-pointing between the School Committee and the Warwick teachers. I don't think anyone knew how valuable this free app was. I'll bet they do now! I guess we can thank Ethan Hartley and The Warwick beacon for bringing it to light.
Merry Christmas Cat.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Thursday, December 20, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
I believe the School Committee and the Warwick Police Department might disagree with you on your comment of "I don't think anyone knew how valuable this free app was" based on the multiple attempts to get people to download it. There darn well should be finger pointing!!! Free tool, presented to all schools by the WSC and police personnel and prompted many times to upload. Gosh, what could be the problem? That's right! Not everyone has a phone. SMH
Thursday, December 20, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear Cat,
Compelling argument once again.
I was talking about degree, and the above article does increase the degree of attention this matter is receiving but, once again, you are right. SMH (shaking my head) a little too.
But I'll bet the above article added to your comment, will add to the "value" and increase the number of users.
Merry Christmas Cat.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Friday, December 21, 2018 Report this
PaulHuff
So basically the president of the WTU is saying that it's members are too stupid (Not technically savvy) to use a smartphone app?
Sounds like the Spanish teacher my kids have over at Toll Gate. They tell me he is probably 75 years old and doesn't understand technology.
If an educator cannot use basic technology in almost 2019 why are they in front of a classroom? How are they evaluated or do they get evaluated at all?
Friday, December 21, 2018 Report this
Not sure what is worse...the teachers not using the app or the union president making excuses. I would be ashamed if my union president inferred that 60 per cent of my workers were technologically challenged or still had flip phones. Want to see 100 per cent compliance...New Rule..no personal cell phones on school property unless equipped with the app that just may save a kids life!!!
See how fast technologically challenged flip phone users comply.
Friday, December 21, 2018 Report this
wwkvoter
Wasnt there some dispute about electronic gradebooks too? Maybe some PD is needed on technology. I'm sure that 60% of our teachers don't want to be unsafe. What do they need to get with this opportunity? Maybe their leadership should say "we want to do this and here's what we need to do it"...
That being said, sometimes the fear factor for the technically challenged is worse than doing it, an "app" is not that hard to put on and use. So some encouragement and some teaching may be all that is needed, just what they give to their classroom kids everyday.
Saturday, December 22, 2018 Report this
richardcorrente
Dear PaulHuff and others,
I almost always agree with PaulHuff but in this case I feel he is being a little too harsh. I think the value of the app was not realized up to now but with all the attention we are all giving it, I believe that issue will improve...a lot! Let's look at the positive side. All our comments, good and bad, had a positive effect. Hey. Good for us!
Merry Christmas "us".
Rick Corrente
Saturday, December 22, 2018 Report this
WarwMom
Student safety has never been WPS strong suit or a priority. There’s absolutely NO excuse for teachers across the district to not have this app downloaded nor is there any excuse for admin to not make sure EVERY teacher has it downloaded and ready to use on their phones. Excuses!! God forbid there’s an emergency! WPS actually spent money on something useful and needed and it hasn’t even been taken advantage of by more than 40% of the staff!? And by the way, Winman isn’t listed on that chart. This is neglectful on the part of the teachers who haven’t yet downloaded this app! With the state our schools are in-Warwick and acros the nation when it comes to violence, you’d think this would be a no brainer. Get it together, WPS!! These our OUR children you are putting at risk!
Sunday, December 23, 2018 Report this
SadieA
WARMOM,
Winman is considered part of the TG Campus.
Sunday, December 23, 2018 Report this
Trump45
How much does this system cost the city of Warwick ?
I can tell you since it has been installed it never has been used and is a waste to have and that may be a reason why the teachers aren't interested. With cell phones there is no need for this gimmick system that I'm sure a salesperson sold to some one in the city hook and line.
Tuesday, December 25, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
The app is FREE. Most of the teachers have phones. Adequate information has been presented on how to download and use it. The reason it wasn't pushed by the union is because it came from the school committee. If someone from the union came up with it then it would be on every phone. Don't insult our intelligence with excuses.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Report this
DannyHall82
Warwick Teachers’ Union president Darlene Netcoh,
“I think it got by people,” she said. “There are people who are not technologically savvy. Believe it or not we do have people with flip phones, or no phones.” So basically she is saying 60% of teachers can’t use a smartphone
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Report this
SOS822
A few things:
I am an employee in this district and consider myself very proficient in tech, emails, apps etc. I have not received a training on this app. I looked back and had 1 email with download instructions from the second week of September. I never delete emails and I only found one! This beacon article was much more informative than any info I received from the school district in a 4 month span. I downloaded the app ... but not because my employer was giving me adequate info ... I can thank the Beacon. Dr. Phil should maybe talk about these things with his employees when he is standing around open houses etc. with his nose buried in his phone instead of conversing or making eye contact with employees.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Report this
DannyHall82
My 2 year old can navigate an iPhone to play learning games lol Time for a new Union Teacher President
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Report this
Flo5582
In fairness to all of the teachers who are being looked at as lazy, ignorant, incompetent or whatever other insult you can drudge up... do you Mr. Hall or any of the other noneducators who’ve commented, even understand how many emails teachers receive a day??? From principals, to Human Resources and parents, other educators etc.! Of course safety of students comes first but to send this in an email amongst the 100s of other emails and to think that it’s going to get addressed as quickly as you’d like, is a fallacy. Perhaps if there is low participation than this could be addressed more in a building level than and individual level. Often times administrators in school buildings need to step up a bit more and teach, reteach, reinforce and follow up on these initiatives.. simply due to the overwhelming responsibility put on teachers. So Mr.Hall, while I’m am so glad to hear that your two year of can navigate a smartphone (3 claps for that!) let’s stop bashing here and figure out why this is not being followed through on. Oh and by the way... while you’re so thrilled with your two years olds technological skills, let’s hope you’re emphasizing those social skills that she’s missing everytime you hand her that phone. Goodness knows you may be as good at teaching those as you are at running political campaigns.
Wednesday, December 26, 2018 Report this
Justanidiot
eye agrees with the teachers on this one. day hab been told for years "donts use your own device computer laptop phone for work, it is a security risk. now because of the cheapskate skul, they are told oh fergets all dat, use your own fone for work. youse dont mind paying for verizon so you can do our job
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
Flo5582,
Stacia, you only comment here when you can bash Hall. Do you sit and eagerly await each article to see when he posts?
He isn't wrong? Most young children can navigate a phone with ease before they can go to elementary school. Who cares how many emails teachers get. People that work get tons of email every day. Why would that be an excuse? The article lays out the ways the app was introduced to the administrators and teachers. It wasn't pushed and it should have been. Excuses. Always a ton of excuses until something happens and then watch all the finger pointing that will be going on. After this article and hopefully discussion between the school administrators and teachers, there should be 100% participation with everyone that owns a phone. Let's see how long that takes.
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
Flo5582
Cat2222,
To be clear, I generally respond when ridiculous comments or points are made. It hapoens to be coincidental that Mr.Hall makes the most ridiculous comments, I can’t answer for why he does that. And it does matter how many emails teachers get per day. I’m sure you can agree the role of a teacher has stretched well beyond 9-3 and includes making time for their own families. That being said, any new initiative needs a leader to push it through , thst would be the school principal, superintendent etc. That is where I see the change and the compliance happening in this case. As usual, thank you for responding on Mr.Hall’s behalf, as those who read this paper know, he often needs help crafting his responses and making intelligent points. Thank you for being a good friend to him
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
Emails are a daily chore that almost every working adult deals with and knows how to handle. No one gets that many emails that they don't know how to prioritize them. No one. I am not buying what you are selling.
You have such an issue with Hall that it stands out like a red flag because you only comment when he does. Not sure if you are a troll or a stalker. It just always strikes me as weird when you pop up out of nowhere to post just to bash him. Usually entertaining but nonetheless odd.
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
Flo5582
Again, cat2222, I’m sure mr.hall appreciates you being his mouth piece once again. Very kind of you ...good day!
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
DannyHall82
I appreciate that Cat, It’s definitely not Stacia. Her response alone shows pro union. It’s either Judy or Karen....both the same lol. I’m looking forward to seeing who the new school committee will point the finger at for the lack of progress the district has made and lack of funds, they are all in the pockets of the City council so should be interested.
Thursday, December 27, 2018 Report this
Mike02886
Should you be required to have work apps on your personal phone?
Maybe the schools need to have systems in place where it's not the educators responsibility.
Friday, December 28, 2018 Report this
Cat2222
Dannyhall82, you mean to tell me there are more nutcases like Stacia out there in Warwick? That is terrifying. To think that there is someone out there that lies low just waiting to see you comment so they can attack you just because it is you is really disturbing. That isn't normal behavior. Kudos to you for commenting as you see fit even though you know it will result in Flo popping up.
Thursday, January 3, 2019 Report this
DannyHall82
Cat, the funny thing is that I know who it (she) is. It (she) has had plenty of opportunities to make statements in person but never has. The dream team I like to think of them as....
Sunday, January 13, 2019 Report this