By Andy Dahn

BLOOMINGTON – Parents of District 87 students who are concerned that their child is being bullied now have a way to report that concern anonymously.

The district’s bullying hotline allows parents to submit their concerns to school and district officials through text and voice messages. While the messages are anonymous, school officials will still be able to respond to ensure parents that the issue will be taken care of. Superintendent Barry Reilly said while the hotline has only been in place for one week, it has already helped stop some instances of bullying.

“We’ve already seen the benefit of it,” Reilly said. “I think as people begin to get comfortable with the fact that it is truly anonymous, I think we’ll get more information, and more information is better. I’m sure I’ve got some principals who are concerned with the amount of messages that they could get, but I really don’t see that being a big issue.”

Reilly said the hotline takes putting an end to bullying to a whole new level.

“This is another method that helps provide another safety net, as I see it,” said Reilly. “It allows us to investigate and mediate if necessary, but we are certainly able to follow through and make sure that the needs of our kids are being met.”

Each school in the district has a different hotline number, which can be found on the school’s website.

Andy Dahn can be reached at [email protected].