Lightspeed Alert
Our priority is to provide every student with a high quality education in a safe learning environment. As part of our continued efforts to keep our students safe, and after extensive research and planning, we selected and implemented Lightspeed Alert in the summer of 2024 as part of our District’s broader student safety and well-being initiatives.
What is Lightspeed Alert?
Lightspeed Alert is an early detection solution that monitors students’ online activity for signs of self-harm, violence, and bullying. Safety specialists analyze each alert and escalate imminent threats for intervention.
Lightspeed Alert uses artificial intelligence (AI) to monitor, interpret, and flag warning signs in email, web searches, and Google applications. Lightspeed Alert also provides 24/7/365 human review of student safety alerts. If imminent danger to students or the school exists, Lightspeed safety specialists follow an escalation process that includes calling designated school and District contacts and/or law enforcement for immediate intervention. All valid threats are investigated by authorized District personnel in accordance with our student safety policies and procedures.
How does Lightspeed Alert work?
Lightspeed Alert scans student activity for concerning words or phrases on school-owned devices, in school productivity suites (e.g., Google Workspace), and in internet searches on personal devices that are logged into the school network. If concerns are identified, real-time notifications are sent to Lightspeed Alert safety specialists for review. These trained personnel evaluate all alerts, conduct threat assessments, and escalate all imminent threats to district safety personnel and/or law enforcement, enabling early intervention and prevention.
Imminent threats are those in which a reasonable person would believe or has reasonable cause to suspect that harm is imminent and the school or first responders should take immediate action. For imminent threats, a safety specialist calls down an escalation list of designated District emergency contacts until someone is reached. In the unlikely event that no District contacts can be reached, they will contact local law enforcement.
Imminent threats are those in which a reasonable person would believe or has reasonable cause to suspect that harm is imminent and the school or first responders should take immediate action. For imminent threats, a safety specialist calls down an escalation list of designated District emergency contacts until someone is reached. In the unlikely event that no District contacts can be reached, they will contact local law enforcement.
Data and Privacy
Lightspeed Systems and the Whitesboro Central School District are committed to the responsible, secure, and compliant use of data. All Lightspeed Systems practices, including the use of AI and monitoring, comply with all applicable laws and adhere to strict data privacy and security practices. Lightspeed Systems serves more than 20 million students in 28,000 schools throughout 39 countries.
FAQ
- How is the Whitesboro Central School District using Lightspeed Alert?
- What are the school’s responsibilities?
- What are my parental/guardian and child’s responsibilities?
- Does Lightspeed Alert monitor my child’s personal device?
- How does the Whitesboro Central School District and Lightspeed Systems help protect my child’s privacy?