'Safe Schools - Safe Streets' measures sponsored by bi-partisan team of Oakland County commissioners

A series of resolutions have been introduced by a bipartisan group of eight (8) members of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners relating to issue of reducing the threat of gun violence and improving school safety. These measures, collectively labeled “Safe Schools – Safe Streets,” resulted from consultation with Sheriff Michael J. Bouchard and other community stakeholders. The resolutions were introduced at the July 19 Board meeting and are moving quickly through the committee approval process. Final Board consideration is expected on Aug. 9.

The Safe Schools – Safe Streets Resolutions include:

• MR #18272: Support for Michigan Legislature to Provide Funding to Increase School Safety Measures to Harden the Security at All Michigan Schools – Introduced by Commissioner Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake).

• MR #18273: Support of Michigan Legislative Reform – Raising the Penalty for Concealing an Unregistered Handgun – Introduced by Commissioner Gary R. McGillivray (D-Madison Heights).

• MR #18274: Support for Legislation to Prioritize and Allocate Funds for School Resource Officers in Michigan Schools – Introduced by Commissioner David E. S. Bowman (D-Pontiac).

• MR #18278: Support of Michigan Legislative Reform – Raising the Penalty for Incidents Involving a Stolen or Unregistered Handgun – Introduced by Commissioner Nancy Quarles (D-Southfield).

• MR #18281: Support of Senate Bill 983 – School Emergency Operations Plan – Introduced by Commissioner Adam Kochenderfer (R-Rochester Hills).

• MR #18283: Support for the Implementation of Early Warning Security Measures to Curb the Threat of Gun Violence for Our Students – Introduced by Commissioner Tom J. Berman (R-Keego Harbor).

• MR #18284: Support of Safe School Environments for Oakland County Students – Introduced by Commissioner Wade Fleming (R-Troy).

• MR #18285: Support of Michigan Legislative Reform – Enhancing the Penalties for Lost, Misplaced and Stolen Firearms – Introduced by Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub (R-Bloomfield Twp.).

“The health and safety of our kids is of the upmost importance,” said Board Chairman Michael J. Gingell. “It is essential that we work together to address the serious issue of gun violence.

This series of bipartisan resolutions urge the Michigan legislature to act quickly to better protect our students statewide, and to take the necessary steps to make our schools and communities safer.”

Current safety practices and procedures, and school building infrastructure and communication systems, may represent potential vulnerabilities in area schools. The resolutions slated to go before the full Board this week take a multifaceted approach to preventing gun violence and improving school safety, including pushing for basic security upgrades, early warning systems and resource officers in all school buildings.

Funding for immediate and long-term improvements to school facilities is needed for basic security updates, like upgrading building lock and communications systems, to better protect students. MR #18272, sponsored by Commissioner Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake), calls upon the Michigan legislature to invest in increased school safety measures to harden security at all schools.

Early warning safety measures are critical to alerting faculty, students and emergency responders to the presence of a threat, initiating emergency protocols and decreasing response time in school violence situations. MR #18283, sponsored by Commissioner Tom J. Berman (R-Keego Harbor), supports legislation to implement an alternate tone system in schools, to help them better respond to gun violence situations. These systems utilize a different tone for active shooter incidents than the tone used for fire or other emergencies, making it easier for students and staff to understand the nature of the emergency and respond accordingly.

Another important component of creating safer school environments is the presence of school resource officers. School resource officers can help build positive relationships with students and are the eyes and ears in our schools, which helps them to prevent violence and to protect students and staff if an emergency does occur. MR #18274, sponsored by Commissioner David E.S. Bowman (D-Pontiac), urges legislators in Lansing to prioritize and allocate funds for school resource officers in all our schools.

More information about the Board of Commissioners and its gun violence prevention efforts is available at www.oakgov.com/boc.

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