Parents, students and staff press Walled Lake board on safety, special-education placements and IB program cuts

Dozens of parents, students and staff used the board's public-comment period to press Walled Lake Consolidated Schools officials Tuesday on classroom safety, transparency about a student threat, alleged denials of special-education placement recommendations and the planned removal of the International Baccalaureate program at Walled Lake Western.

Speakers described repeated classroom disruptions at Commerce and Keith elementary schools — including physical assaults, property damage and repeated verbal threats — and called on the board to explain why parents were not notified promptly and what disciplinary and support steps the district will take.

Why it matters: Several parents said the same child made multiple threats (including a threat to bring a gun to school) and that families were not informed quickly. Speakers urged immediate, clearer notification protocols, stronger safety plans and either disciplinary action or targeted interventions for the student involved.

Mitch Watkins, who identified himself as a Walled Lake Central alumnus and spoke in support of special-education staff, said paraeducators and classroom teachers are ‘‘trying their best to support students with…