In an effort to address the growing concern over bullying among today’s youth, the Warren County R-III School District is partnering with parents in the community to host a public service event.A representative from the anti-bullying organization Teens of America will be on hand to speak and answer questions in the Warrenton High School commons Wednesday, June 1, at 6:30 p.m.“It’s our job to be as educated as possible and look for warning signs and avenues that kids will take,” said Assistant Superintendent Aaron Jones. “If we’re not taking those opportunities to be educated then we are failing our children.”Jones says the school is continually looking for ways to ensure the safety of its students, beyond just the physical aspect of intruders.While reinforced entrances and cameras can limit the chance of an attack in the schools, detecting and responding to physical and social harassment among the students is a more complex task.Jones says the increased amount of students on social media sites like Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter complicate the ability to identify instances of bullying.“So much of it happens outside of school and we can’t police everything that’s going on social media, which makes it difficult,” said Jones.He said the district especially wants to focus on encouraging parents to be vigilant about possible signs or risks their children are exhibiting.“The thought process is that kids are off school for the next couple of months and may not have the daily interaction with adults they normally do,” said Jones. “We want to help parents recognize students who are in crisis or struggling while at home as well.”Two of the primary resources the district is currently using to combat bullying are the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) and the bullying hotline, which is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days week.“We also are one of the few districts that have PBIS kindergarten through 12th grade,” said Jones. “Most just have it at the elementary level and more are adding it at middle school and high school levels.”He said the staff has responded to calls made to the hotline at very late hours or even on the weekends to help resolve student safety concerns. For more information about the upcoming public event, visit teensofamerica.net.Warrenton High School