<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2P7B9g_0uxq3yvo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2P7B9g_0uxq3yvo00" width="650" height="438" ><figcaption>The&nbsp;Manistee Intermediate School District received a Manistee County Local Revenue Sharing grant to install buzzer systems in all the county schools in 2017. (Kyle Kotecki/News Advocate) </figcaption></figure> As is the case with schools throughout the United States,&nbsp;Manistee County school districts invest a lot of resources into ensuring students and staff are as&nbsp;safe as possible. Shelly VanVoorst, <a href="https://casman.org/" rel="nofollow"> CASMAN Academy </a> director, said there has been a "huge uptick" in the need for increasing security over the past five to 10 years. "Every school now has to have a school emergency operation plan in place, (which is) reviewed consistently with board members, law enforcement and staff," she said. "Having video cameras in schools and around school property has become the norm. Schools' front doors are no longer unlocked during the day, visitors and students need to be buzzed in after being cleared to enter." Jake Veith, superintendent of <a href="https://bllakers.org/" rel="nofollow"> Bear Lake </a> and <a href="https://kndschools.org/" rel="nofollow"> Kaleva Norman Dickson Schools </a> , said by law his districts need to complete a minimum of three lockdown drills, five fire drills and two tornado drills per year. "And we coordinate the drills with the county's emergency manager to ensure the state police and sheriff's department are able to be at all of our drills as well," he said. <h3> A collaborative effort </h3> Veith said other recent developments pertaining to security include <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/local-news/article/Nightlock-fundraiser-draws-in-many-donations-14250669.php" rel="nofollow"> Nightlock security devices at every interior door </a> , new security camera systems, new windows and doors, an electronic swipe card at entrances so fewer hard copy keys are needed&nbsp;and keeping all doors and windows locked throughout the school day. "Our districts also schedule professional development specific to school safety," he said. "For example, many professional staff are trained to perform threat assessments — this is an assessment that is often completed with law enforcement and mental health professionals to determine if a student in crisis poses a threat to the school or themselves. "Also, the districts work side-by-side with our sheriff's department, laying out scenarios or tabletop sessions to our staff to make sure we appropriately respond." <a href="https://manistee.org/" rel="nofollow"> Manistee Intermediate School District </a> superintendent Dave Cox said as technology has advanced, so too have safety measures employed by schools. "We now utilize advanced camera systems, and all buildings feature secure vestibules or require fob access," Cox said. "Staff members wear ID badges, and we thoroughly screen all visitors. Windows are equipped with shatterproof film to deter unauthorized entry." Cox said critical incident maps have been created for emergency responders and local districts have implemented radios and apps to enhance communication speed and efficiency. "Additionally, the presence of security personnel and school resource officers has notably increased," he said. "Schools and emergency responders now regularly collaborate through monthly meetings to address and enhance school safety." <h3> Finding a balance </h3> VanVoorst said while some school&nbsp;visitors&nbsp;may view the safety protocols as an inconvenience, they are in place to make sure schools are as safe as possible. "Many times, especially in small communities, people will think, 'They know me. Why do I have to go through the screening? Just buzz me in,' but it really boils down to training," she said "We need to be consistent with each and every person who approaches the door and is looking to gain entry into the building. Consistency is what will buy us the five or 10 seconds that we may need to alert law enforcement that something isn't right." <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0PQDiz_0uxq3yvo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0PQDiz_0uxq3yvo00" width="650" height="903" ><figcaption>In this file photo, then-Kennedy Elementary School principal Kevin Schmuztler demonstrates in February 2016 how easily the&nbsp;Nightlock system is installed in a doorway. (File photo) </figcaption></figure> Dan Mesyar, <a href="https://www.ocs.manistee.org/" rel="nofollow"> Onekama Consolidated Schools </a> superintendent, agrees that schools need to stay vigilant. "Obviously (security) has always been the number one priority of every school district, but I think now it's at such a heightened state that you can't think about it like, 'That will never happen here,'" he said. "I think that was the perception of a lot of districts all over the country. ... Now the reality is we have to prepare to make sure we do everything within our power to keep students safe and look at every resource we have." Mesyar said while it is nice having students' family members visit the school, it can not happen at the expense of safety. "You&nbsp;have to find the balance to where you have more personnel, you have to spend more money on personnel&nbsp;at the doors, outside," he said. "We're going to welcome students and parents in, but in the morning we have two to three staff members outside, we have administration around, and it's different. Thirty years ago you just had people walk right in, so things have changed dramatically, but our philosophy is finding that balance." <h3> Affording security equipment </h3> VanVoorst said the security devices and equipment can be costly. "As a small school, the budget comes into play before the latest and greatest advances," she said. "We work very hard to ensure we have a secure building, and we consistently incorporate upgraded equipment into the overall security of the building. ... We seek out grant funds to continue to add to our security features." School safety grants such as the Third Available Allocation&nbsp;grant and Section 97 of the State School Aid Act&nbsp;have provided funds to improve school safety in Michigan, but those funds will be drastically decreased following the 2024-25 school year, Veith said. "School districts need to understand that having a safe and secure school involves funding, and it is important to have money put away when things are needed," he said. "Our school boards and the business office have recognized this need and keep money set aside for safety needs and updates." Mesyar said his district plans to bring a zero-mill bond proposal before voters in the November election that would allow for security upgrades and updates for the district. The proposal is considered a zero-mill bond because it is not expected to&nbsp;raise the tax levy and would instead extend an existing millage. "What we're looking at in Onekama is a lot of safety upgrades, one of which would be a single-point entrance — that's something huge that we're looking at for our bond," he said. "And then the technology upgrades. You look at window film, not bulletproof but bullet-resistant — that would buy time if someone did have a weapon and tried to get in. We always talk about seconds buy minutes, and minutes save lives." <figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2llSrt_0uxq3yvo00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2llSrt_0uxq3yvo00" width="650" height="430" ><figcaption>Onekama Consolidated Schools is located at 5016 Main St. in Onekama. (File photo) </figcaption></figure> Onekama Consolidated Schools went into lockdown Feb. 22 after Manistee County Central Dispatch received a call from the Michigan Intelligence Operations Center advising of a potential threat to the school which had been sent by a student. " <a href="https://www.manisteenews.com/news/article/manistee-county-sheriff-s-office-responds-school-18682737.php" rel="nofollow"> We had a real situation </a> and our students and staff did a great job, but we're looking to really harden the building but also give it the friendly, family feel, so finding that balance is what we're doing in Onekama." VanVoorst said it is important to be consistent with the day-to-day safety practices. "When you get relaxed and start to let things slide, that's when gaps are found and breaches can be made," she said. "Since we are all human, mistakes happen, but that is also why we consistently run drills and practices in case an unplanned dramatic event ever does happen. ... I feel as if Manistee County has a great working and collaborative relationship with all of the departments involved in the safety of our schools." Cox said the Manistee ISD secured resources from the state, allocated funds and collaborated with the local school districts to write grants and acquire essential safety equipment to enhance the security of the Manistee County districts, and the efforts continue. "Schools were never designed to be fortresses, so the challenge to get them as secure as possible is real, but we take it head on," Cox said. "If there is something new that we can put in place to further ensure the safety of our schools, we will do everything we can to add it." </div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

How Manistee County school districts aim to keep students, staff safe

\"If there is something new that we can put in place to further ensure the safety of our schools, we will do everything we can to add it.\"

"If there is something new that we can put in place to further ensure the safety of our schools, we will do everything we can to add it."