NEWS RELEASE
PARKER FAIRBAIRN, STATE REPRESENTATIVE
*************************
State Rep. Parker Fairbairn on Wednesday partnered with a bipartisan group of lawmakers to announce a plan to bolster security and mental health measures within 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 several years ago. The plan, House Bills 4222 through 4229, incorporates expertise from educators, parents, mental health professionals, and law enforcement.
“I’m proud to be part of this bipartisan group of lawmakers working to get our schools the resources they need to keep kids safe, both mentally and physically,” said Fairbairn, R-Harbor Springs.
Fairbairn’s legislation, HB 4227, would require a minimum of two dedicated intermediate school district staff members be assigned to student safety and mental health planning and coordination. These new staff would serve as contact points for school safety plans, grant opportunities, and mental health and security strategies for the school districts they support. They would maintain communication between the state and school districts within the ISD while facilitating communication between other districts in their region.
“Every school district should have someone whose job it is to focus on the weak points in the district,” Fairbairn said. “Those weak points may be oversights in safety precautions or a lack of mental health services or planning. Regardless of the problems, we need to equip our schools with the people and tools they need to enhance every aspect of their school safety and mental health planning. We’re going to give every school an expert whose only job will be keeping our kids safe.”
In addition to Fairbairn’s bill to secure additional safety and mental health support, the plan would:
- Plan for safety. Schools would be required to review and update their safety plans every three years in consultation with their ISD-level safety coordinator, and statewide standards would guide the implementation of modern security measures for school buildings.
- 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. Standard training on safety and mental health protocols would be required for all school staff, security personnel, and resource officers. The plan would also require necessary safety drills for staff and students.
HBs 4222 through 4229 have been referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
*************************
