Scott Wartman

swartman@nky.com

Johnny Bench thinks he has an app to combat bullying.

The Reds' Hall of Fame catcher will unveil the app Thursday morning with a news conference at the Montgomery Inn Boathouse Downtown.

He owns a company, moblWorks, that specializes in custom apps for schools.

The app will be in 5,000 schools across the country. Parents won't have to pay, schools will pay a fee of $79 per month. What schools will get them wasn't available.

The Smithfield School App, named for the sponsor, Smithfield Foods, will allow teachers and school administrators to alert parents to reports of bullying, cyberbullying, threats, school closings and "serious incidents."

Bench, in a news release, stated the app will also inform students about assignments, grades, school functions, sporting events and school fundraisers.

"There is way too much bullying going on in schools these days and cyberbullying is the no. 3 cause of teen suicide in our country," Bench said. "I have school-age kids, and I want every child protected as much as possible."

For more information, www.smithfieldschoolapp.com.