Dear Families,

Over the past ten days, news and images of another school shooting have inundated our news sources, televisions, and social media. We hear the accounts of tragedy and we see the faces of children, parents, and school staff stunned by yet another act of violence at a school. This is not acceptable and we must partner together to continue to make Howell Public Schools a safe and secure learning environment for our students. There is nothing more important.

Most importantly, safe and secure schools begin with a positive school culture. A school culture focused on positive relationships between students, staff, parents, and the community. The better we truly know our children, the more vigilant we can be to support their needs as well as to recognize and report any warning signs of violence. In this spirit, I look forward to meeting with students in the coming weeks to discuss their feelings about school safety and any recommendations for improvement.

Additionally, over the past several years, our school personnel have participated in trainings and built strong relationships with law enforcement and other first responders. They have advised us on how to better secure our schools in a variety of ways. For example, we have limited access to buildings to single, secured entries, added security cameras at many of our buildings, and improved our internal and external communication protocols. Moreover, I am committed to continuously and systematically evaluating our district security measures in order to take additional steps to prevent any acts of violence. This is what drove me to request our board to reinstate our district resource officer structure this year. It will continue to drive me to improve all aspects of our safety protocols, including updated staff trainings, critical incident drills to more effectively prepare our students, building modifications, and continued strong partnerships with our local law enforcement.

We cannot keep our schools safe without the help and support of our entire community. Please make sure your child knows they must tell a trusted adult immediately, if they feel their school is threatened. They can also utilize the OK2SAY resource which is is a confidential tip line. Anyone can use OK2SAY to report tips on criminal activities or potential harm directed at Michigan students, school employees, or schools. The tips go directly to the Michigan State Police who then pass them along to school officials and local law enforcement agencies. There are two ways a tip can be submitted to OK2SAY. The first is through the OK2SAY website http://www.michigan.gov/ok2say/. The second is through the OK2SAY mobile app which is available in both the Apple and Google Play stores.

Finally, we need your support in helping our children cope with the emotions that may be triggered by the acts and coverage of school violence. The National Association of School Psychologists has provided tips for parents. You can view these tips by clicking here. Please take the time to help your child express their feelings by listening to their concerns and reassuring them that they are safe.

Sincerely,

Erin J. MacGregor

Superintendent

Howell Public Schools