Safety Actions Taken

As a result of the Sandy Hook shooting on December 14, 2012, we thought it would be helpful to provide you with a list of steps Monroe Public Schools has taken over the years to address the issue of school safety:

• Building modifications made through Sinking Fund

• Additional security cameras have been installed

• Building & District crisis communication plans developed

• Building & District crisis response teams formed

• Zero Tolerance policy on violence implemented

• Anti-Bullying policy implemented

• Crisis Prevention Intervention training opportunities provided for staff

• School Liaison officers at Monroe Middle School & Monroe High School

• TEAM training for school liaison officers

• Drug education and evaluation services

• Risk assessments of students making threats or possessing a weapon at school

• Bomb threat response planning

• Homeland Security Grant (2004/05)

  • Vulnerability assessments of school buildings were conducted to look at the preparedness of each school building to handle an emergency. Assessments focused on building access, mail delivery, food and water supply, heating & cooling systems, chemical storage, communication systems and the transportation of students in the event of an emergency.

  • Hazardous response plan update

  • Tabletop exercises to train personnel how to respond to an emergency in the school

  • Full scale mock emergency at MHS to test responsiveness to an emergency

• Homeland Security Grant II (2006)

  • MPS received $1334 for each school building to purchase items from an “approved equipment list” supplied by the Michigan State Police. Monroe purchase AED units with wall mounted cabinets, heavy-duty flashlights and team command vests

• Criminal history checks have been performed on all employees and are now performed on new hires

• Internet Criminal History Access Tool (ICHAT) performed on all school volunteers

• Developed visitor sign-in procedures, including the use of visitor badges

• School personnel photo ID’s

• Parental communication through the Honeywell Instant Alert System

• Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools grant (REMS) 2009

  • National Incident Management System (NIMS) training for 58 key school personnel which provided a systematic approach to incident management

  • Update of building and district level crisis plans to reflect current best practices and unique building level needs

  • Conducted building level safety audit and vulnerability assessments with trained safety consultant. Districts looked at each school building’s fencing of gas mains, A/C units, utility panels, student drop off/pickup, vegetation around buildings, exterior lighting, building access, access to main office, interior lighting, windows, signage, alarm systems, CCTV, security procedures, off premise procedures, training and exercise of staff

  • Developed a food safety plan

  • Developed an infection disease plan

  • Conducted training for special education teachers for handling the unique needs of students with disabilities during a crisis

  • Provided parents with the district’s emergency preparedness plans through school newsletters

  • Created and distributed wallet cards for parents with pertinent emergency information

  • Developed parent reunification plans

  • Provided Emergency Management Guides for each classroom in the district and Administrative Guides for the offices

  • Conducted tabletop exercises

  • Conducted a full-scale exercise involving a mock-explosive on a school bus o Purchase 27 hand-held radios

• Building plans updated and provided to local law enforcement

• Developed an Emergency Response Team within the MPS Maintenance Department to assist local First Responders in an emergency

• Developed after-hours procedures in the event of emergency

• Participated in Rapid-Deployment training for Monroe City Police, held at Monroe Middle School

• Hosted a county-wide Flu-Pandemic training and exercise led by the Monroe County Health Department

• Implemented the use of “Emergency Bags” at each building containing key items needed in the event of evacuation, such as class lists and student contact information

• Provided Highway Watch training for bus drivers

• AED and First Aid training provided for key staff by school nurse

• Practice drills designed for Fire, Tornado, Lockdown, and Shelter-in-Place