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Oshkosh schools outline safety plan, SRO review and $1M Stop School Violence grant
Summary
District administrators presented the annual safety plan to the board, described ongoing work to align school resource officer (SRO) memoranda of understanding with district policy, and noted a nearly $1 million Stop School Violence Bureau of Justice Assistance grant supporting social-emotional learning through 2027.
The Oshkosh Area School District presented its annual safety plan and a plan for continued review of school resource officer (SRO) agreements at the Aug. 13 board meeting.
District administrator Dr. Coleman told the board the safety plan meets state requirements under Wisconsin statute 118.07 and is reviewed annually by the board. "The Oshkosh Area School District has a comprehensive safety plan that reflects state requirements," Coleman said, listing drills, safety audits and cross-agency training as components.
Coleman said the district's Emergency Preparedness Collaborative Operations Team (EPCOT) has become a statewide model for monthly safety trainings and law-enforcement coordination. He noted the district received nearly a $1,000,000 Bureau of Justice Assistance Stop School Violence grant to support universal social-emotional learning, mental-health and trauma-response work; the grant runs through 2027. "The purpose of this grant is to support social emotional learning strategies, mental health and trauma response," Coleman said, and he credited Director Kammer for securing the award.
District leaders described steps to clarify SRO roles and align memoranda of understanding (MOU) with district policy 55.40 and related procedures. Coleman summarized multiagency tabletop exercises and a midyear review in February that included district administrators, deans, teacher leaders, SROs and the Oshkosh Police Department. "Doctor Davis and Chief Smith provided a joint statement on their belief that school resource officers are valuable and will remain in schools," Coleman said, adding that policy-practice inconsistencies will be addressed and could lead to proposed policy changes.
The plan includes a schedule for completing required safety audits at the secondary level in 2025—26 and at elementary schools in 2026—27; upgrades to visitor check-in and check-out procedures; and training for administrators, deans and SROs. Coleman said the district uses the FEMA emergency-management framework (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery) and implements ALICE (alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate) training.
Board members asked whether the safety-plan review is primarily a compliance exercise. "We are required by district policy to provide a school safety plan that the school board reviews and approves each year," Coleman said, but added that the district also sees it as fulfilling the core value of a safe learning environment.
Coleman pointed the board to an emergency-response video and the Speak Up Speak Out (SUSO) tip application, which allows anonymous reporting to the Wisconsin Department of Justice tip line. "Students, parents, school staff, or any community member can anonymously submit a school safety concern or threat," Coleman said; he added the resource center works 24/7 to route tips to local administrators and law enforcement.
Ending: District staff said they will continue EPCOT exercises, complete the audit schedule, and present an annual SRO report to the finance and facilities committee in 2025. The board indicated it will consider policy and governance changes as staff refine MOUs and procedures.
