On our school IDs we are meant to have two numbers: the school’s tipline and the suicide lifeline. However, the school IDs for the 2024 to 2025 year falsely labeled the suicide hotline as our school’s tip line.

   Every high school in Springfield Public Schools has ID badges for students to wear. While not all schools enforce students to wear the IDs during the day, administrators want students to have the IDs with them at all times, either in their bags, wallets, etc.

   These IDs serve more than just identification, providing  a place for students to have easy access to various tiplines in the case of an emergency. 

   One of the numbers that we have on our IDs is the Kickapoo Tip Line. The tip line is used for students to report things that could be harmful to the people of the school.

   “It gives students an opportunity to report things that they see or hear during the school day that might pose some kind of threat or problem to the school or the school environment,” Assistant Principal Scot Phillips said.

   At assemblies and orientations students were informed about the tip line and what to do if they see or hear anything that needs to be reported for student’s safety. For example, if a student believes that another is in possession of a dangerous object that could harm others.

   Students can access the school’s anonymous tip line through text, calling, or on the school’s website. The tip line is monitored by school officials.

   In addition to the tip line we also have the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline on our ID’s.

   “We want to be able to react and respond if a student is threatening those things or talking about those things. We have groups here at school who can help in those situations and we want to get those students help as quickly as possible,” Phillips said.

   Students who are struggling with their mental health can go to the school counselors or administrators for additional help.

   Our ID’s have had the KHS Tip Line and 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline written on the bottom of the ID badges for years. However, this year there was a printing mistake on all the ID’s at our school.

   The 988 number for the suicide hotline was mistakenly written under the words ‘KICKAPOO TIP LINE.’ Furthermore, the actual number for our school’s tip line is not listed on the IDs at all.

   This mistake was brought to the school administrator’s attention and they are working to correct it. 

   For the time being, be aware that our school’s tip line is 417-319-2901 and the Suicide Crisis Lifeline is 988.