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Office of School Safety March 2022 Newsletter
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Competitive School Safety Grant Program
Application Deadline Approaching
The Michigan State Police (MSP) Office of School Safety (OSS) is currently accepting applications for the fiscal year 2022 Competitive School Safety Grant Program (CSSGP). The purpose of this grant is to improve the safety and security of students and staff through the purchase and installation of technology and equipment for school buildings or to upgrade hardening measures. Public schools, nonpublic schools, school districts, public school academies, and intermediate school districts are all eligible to apply. The application and guidance materials are available at www.michigan.gov/officeofschoolsafety.
Completed and signed applications (including all attachments) must be received by the MSP OSS, via email at MSP-SchoolSafety@michigan.gov, no later than 12 p.m. (noon) EDT on Thursday, March 24. Questions about the CSSGP can be directed to MSP-SchoolSafety@michigan.gov.
Emergency Operations Plan Certification
Michigan law (MCL 380.1308b)requires each school building of every school district, intermediate school district, and public school academy to have an emergency operations plan (EOP). The EOP must be reviewed biennially in conjunction with at least one law enforcement agency that has jurisdiction over the district. The Michigan Electronic Grant System Plus (MEGS+) is now able to accept the biennial review that was required to be completed by January 1, 2022. Instructions detailing how to certify a district’s EOP review in the MEGS+ system are available in this Michigan Department of Education (MDE) memo. The actual EOP does not need to be submitted to complete the certification process.
Questions about certifying an EOP in the MEGS+ system may be directed to Ms. Mary Teachout in the MDE School Health and Safety Unit at TeachoutM@michigan.gov or 517-241-7092.
K-12 School Security Guide Suite
From the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) School Safety Task Force:
In February, the CISA School Safety Task Force released the K-12 School Security Guide Suite, a set of products designed to inform safety and physical security planning for the range of kindergarten through grade 12 (K-12) schools across the United States.
Developed in partnership with the RAND Corporation, the K-12 School Security Guide Suite is comprised of the CISA K-12 School Security Guide (3rd Edition) and accompanying School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT). The Guide and SSAT provide a comprehensive doctrine and methodology to assist schools in conducting more robust vulnerability assessments and implementing layered physical security elements across K–12 districts and campuses. Both products are designed to help school communities strengthen their protection and mitigation capabilities against the range of targeted violence and crime-related threats they might face.
Specifically, the K-12 School Security Guide Suite includes:
- CISA K-12 School Security Guide, 3rd – The 3rd Edition of the K-12 School Security Guide is designed to help education agencies across the United States adopt a systems-based approach to the planning and implementation of layered physical security in schools. Additionally, the Guide demonstrates how taking a systems-based approach to layered physical security can help schools create safe and secure learning environments without asking staff members to become security experts.
- CISA School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) – The K-12 School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) was developed to help schools create safe and secure learning environments.
- CISA School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) User Guide – The User Guide is intended to help users of the K-12 School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) understand the purpose of the tool, how to use the tool, and how to interpret assessment results.
- CISA School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) Technical Appendix – The Technical Appendix is intended to provide users of the K-12 School Security Assessment Tool (SSAT) with a detailed understanding of the creation, operation, and functionality of the SSAT.
The release of the K-12 School Security Guide Suite marks an important milestone in CISA’s continued efforts to advance safe, secure, and resilient schools, and to keep our Nation’s students safe.
To access the Guide and SSAT, please visit https://www.cisa.gov/k-12-school-security-guide.
Safe Storage of Firearms
Research shows secure storage practices play a vital role in reducing the risk of gun violence. Storing firearms securely protects children and adults by preventing unintentional shootings and gun suicides. The Be SMART campaign was launched to raise awareness that secure gun storage—storing guns locked, unloaded, and separate from ammunition—can save children’s lives. Be SMART emphasizes that it is an adult responsibility to keep kids from accessing guns, and that every adult can play a role in keeping kids and communities safer.
In Michigan, some school boards have voted to periodically disseminate materials stressing the importance of secure firearms storage, and to include this information in the annual online student registration process. As a part of this plan, parents and guardians are prompted to acknowledge they have read and reviewed the gun safety materials while completing a student’s registration.
Schools can also encourage families to obtain gun safety locks as an additional method of firearm safety. Law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan partner with Project ChildSafe to provide free cable-style gun locks to families upon request. A list of participating law enforcement agencies is available.
OK2SAY Update
According to Averting Targeted School Violence: A U.S. Secret Service Analysis of Plots Against Schools, dated March 2021, many school attack plots were associated with certain dates, particularly in the month of April. According to the report, some plotters select dates to emulate notorious people or events, including the anniversary of the Columbine attack, Hitler’s birthday, and the anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. Others select dates to coincide with the beginning or end of the school year. OK2SAY encourages school personnel to approach this month with extra consideration by reminding students to take every threat of violence seriously.
When students make the courageous decision to speak out against harmful behavior, they equip authorities with the information needed to respond to threats and avert tragedy.
2022 Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo Event
Registration is now open for K-12 school personnel and resource/safety officers for the School Track of the 2022 Great Lakes Homeland Security Training Conference and Expo. This educationally-focused safety and security program is scheduled on Wednesday, May 11, 2022, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the DeVos Place in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
This year’s School Track provides a wide array of workshops geared toward improving security and safety in Michigan schools. Attendees will learn how to prepare and address the many potential threats and situations they could face within their school environments, while receiving resources on programs and interventions available to improve school safety.
The one-day School Track is free to the first 300 school officials and personnel to register. Throughout registration it will appear that payment is required; however, the cost will be waived upon entering the code 22SCHOOL in the payment section at the end of the registration process. Please note: Even with a free registration, a no-show or late cancellation will incur a $50 fee to recover the costs for meals and materials associated with the registration. Notice of cancellation must be received by April 4, 2022, to avoid this fee.
After the first 300 spots are filled, the cost will be $50 per registration.
For MI-TRAIN registration instructions.
Additional information:
For assistance with registration, please email Ms. Kristi Daymon.
For any other conference related questions, please email EMHSD-Conference@michigan.gov