Bipartisan plan ensures safety and mental health of Michigan kids

State Rep. Kathy Schmaltz on Wednesday reintroduced a comprehensive plan to enhance security and mental health efforts at Michigan schools.

The proposals to improve statewide coordination and support for school safety and student mental health resulted from a bipartisan task force established by the House of Representatives after the 2021 shooting at Oxford High School. The plan, consisting of House Bills 4222-4229 incorporates expertise from educators, parents, mental health professionals, and law enforcement.

“We owe it to every student, teacher, and parent to do everything in our power to make schools a place of safety and learning,” said Schmaltz, R-Jackson. “This plan was built on input from educators, law enforcement, parents, and mental health professionals — people who know what it takes to protect our children.”

Although Schmaltz and her colleagues originally introduced the plan in February 2023, only a few bills received a vote last year in the Democrat-majority House. These four bills, which Schmaltz and the House approved in December, became law early this year. The laws permanently established a School Safety and Mental Health Commission to coordinate with local schools, recommend school safety and mental health practices, and publish an annual report on its findings. The new laws also establish standard terminology so school officials and first responders can communicate clearly in emergencies. Schmaltz said it’s time to act on the rest of the plan.

Schmaltz highlighted her House Bill 4222, which would require schools to review and update their safety plans every three years in consultation with their ISD-level safety coordinator.

“We always have to focus on protecting our children. School safety isn’t something we can set and forget,” Schmaltz said. “Regular reviews ensure our schools are constantly improving their security measures and emergency response plans. We must be proactive, not reactive, when it comes to protecting our kids.”

In addition to Schmaltz’s bill to require regular safety reviews, the plan would:

• Dedicate school staff to student safety and mental health. Each intermediate school district will receive funding to hire a safety and security coordinator and a mental health coordinator. These new staff members would serve as points of contact for school safety plans, grant opportunities, and mental health and security strategies. They would maintain communication between the state and school districts within the ISD, while also facilitating communication between other school districts in their region.

• Expand and improve OK2SAY, the state’s confidential tip line for reporting school-related threats, misconduct, or mental health crises. Contact information for OK2SAY would be placed on school ID cards for easy student access. Reporting and tips received by OK2SAY would be passed on to the ISD coordinators and local law enforcement; reporting and tips would also be provided quarterly to the School Safety and Mental Health Commission. Higher standards and new reporting definitions for OK2SAY would also be adopted.

• Improve responses to school safety crises. The plan would require the Michigan State Police to provide uniform, comprehensive school safety and security training for school resource officers and all staff at Michigan schools. It would also create uniform definitions statewide for school safety terms, such as lockdowns, to foster better communication during crisis events. Other provisions would add more active-shooter drills and ensure at least one drill includes local law enforcement involvement and one is conducted between classes.

HBs 4222-4229 were referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee.