By Shelby Stewart
Staff Writer
The Brandon School District is ramping up security for the 2018-2019 school year.
In April, the Michigan Senate approved and made available $18.6 million in grants for school safety upgrades in the wake of the Parkland School Shooting, and though Brandon will be applying for some of those grants, safety upgrades have been underway for months.
Upgrades include ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training, 120 new security cameras across the district which are accessible remotely by law enforcement, security in each building (retired police officers in the elementary and middle schools, the police liaison at the high school), security stations at the front entrance of each building for ID checks and improved mental health screening and support.
“This work continues, but is a high priority,” said Dr. Matt Outlaw, district superintendent. “We are also encouraging more communication for everyone using the Brandon hotline and the OK2Say site.”
Other precautions being taken are improved access for first responders, numbering doors to assist with response time, spot-checks of procedures and improved drop-off and pick-up procedures.
There will also be a collaborative drill with police and fire on August 29.
“These are our current targets for the 18-19 school year,” said Outlaw.