OXFORD, MS — February 4, 2008 — In an effort to improve the safety and security of local schools, the Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools have initiated a new pilot program that uses an innovative anonymous online and text based reporting technology to bridge the communication gap between students and teachers. Students enrolled in six schools within the MNPS system will be the first students in the state of Tennessee to have access to the web-based 'Talk About It'® service from AnComm, an Oxford, Mississippi-based company.

Currently in use by more than 130 schools across the nation, AnComm's 'Talk About It'® bridges the communication gap between students and staff and provides school administrators with an 'Early Warning System' to communicate with and counsel 'at-risk' students. With 'Talk About It'®, school administrators are newly empowered with information provided anonymously by students so that they may take proactive steps to foster a dialogue, intervene and resolve school violence before it occurs.

"AnComm's 'Talk About It'® anonymous online and text based reporting service gives our students a tool for proactively reaching out to communicate their own problems or the troubles of other schoolmates," said Ralph Thompson, Assistant Superintendent for Student Services, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. "Because 'Talk About It'® is an anonymous service provided over the web, text messaging and cell phone, we believe our students will be feel more comfortable coming forward to counselors without fear of embarrassment or retribution from their peers."

"For students, 'Talk About It'® serves as an 'icebreaker' giving teens a familiar method — the Internet — to anonymously communicate and seek resolution to the many types of issues they are experiencing at school on a day-to-day basis, including bullying, fighting depression, drugs and threats of violence," said Carter Myers, President of AnComm. "By focusing on communication between teachers and students, we are seeing dramatic improvements in reducing the likelihood of school violence in schools using anonymous communication. 'Talk About It'® gives students a voice and encourages each child to play a critical role in improving their school's learning environment and security."

The pilot program begins this week and gives more than 4,000 Nashville students access to the school safety program. The six schools selected for the pilot program are Stratford High School, Antioch High School, Glencliff High School, Margaret Allen Middle School, W. A. Bass Middle School and Ewing Park Middle School.

About AnComm's 'Talk About It'®
Developed by AnComm, 'Talk About It'® is the nation's first and only anonymous online and text based reporting and emergency notification service for schools. Easy-to-use and implement, 'Talk About It'® is a preventative solution focused on bridging the communication gap between students and faculty to foster a safer, more comfortable learning environment. To learn how your educational institution can benefit from AnComm's 'Talk About It'® anonymous online and text based reporting service, call 1 (866) 926-2666 or visit their web site at http://www.ancomm.com.

About Metro Nashville Public Schools
Metro Nashville Public Schools provide a range of educational opportunities to more than 75,000 students in Nashville and Davidson County. The governing body for MNPS is the Metropolitan Nashville and Davidson County Board of Public Education, a nine-member group elected by residents of Metropolitan Nashville. For more information, please visit www.mnps.org.