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Royal Oak district details threat‑assessment process, emergency plans and new statewide response protocols
Summary
District leaders described a multi‑year effort to standardize emergency planning, train staff in the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management framework, store threat‑assessment records securely, and adopt the Standard Response Protocols promoted by state guidance and the I Love You Guys Foundation.
Royal Oak Schools’ leadership told the board they have expanded emergency planning, staff training and coordinated threat‑assessment work this school year and are moving to more standardized protocols aligned with state guidance.
Superintendent Mary Beth Fitzpatrick said safety planning in the district is embedded in daily operations and not “a 1 and done” activity. Patrick Walinski, Executive Director for Staff and Student Services, said the district has worked to organize and store emergency operations plans (EOPs), issue “red bags” with building‑level EOPs and supplies, and set up electronic access for authorized staff.
Dina Vanson, the district’s lead psychologist, described the Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) process: “Threat assessment is a systematic process that’s designed to identify persons of concern, gather information and investigate a reported threat,” she said. Vanson said completed threat‑assessment documents are now stored via the Oakland Schools network with controlled permissions and that about 65 staff members across the district and county have participated in BTAM training. She said building teams include at least three trained staff members and that the process is intended to mitigate risk and “move [students] from a pathway to a pathway of hope instead of a pathway to violence.”
District staff also described training in the Standard Response Protocols (SRP) promoted by the I Love You Guys Foundation and cited state legislation that will require standardization; a district consultant said the state’s School Safety and Mental Health Commission and recent bills establish a statewide expectation and that Royal Oak is an early adopter. Outside consultant Jason Russell and Secure Education Consultants (SCC) were credited for audits, tabletop exercises and ongoing support.
The board’s advisory safety group — which includes district leaders, law‑enforcement liaisons, teachers and SCC representatives — will continue quarterly meetings, build parent and student engagement on safety topics and present an updated EOP summary to the board in the fall. No changes to board policy were presented for a vote at the meeting.
