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Parent praises response to Wildespark secure mode; safety committee reviews procedures
Summary
A parent thanked the district for a quick response after a secure-mode incident at Wildespark Elementary and urged clearer signals for parents; the board's safety committee said it reviewed the incident and will pursue improvements.
A Wildespark Elementary secure-mode incident last week prompted public comment and a safety-committee update at the Harper Creek Community Schools Board meeting on May 12.
Parent reaction and suggestion
Ashley King of Elm Creek spoke during public comments, telling the board she arrived at the school shortly after officials moved the building to secure mode and that she was grateful for the officers' response. "I just wanted to say thank you for protecting my babies," King said. She said the timing left some parents uncertain whether they should approach the building and suggested a simple visual signal — for example, a green/yellow/red indicator — that would quickly tell arriving parents whether an entrance was operating normally, in a restricted state, or in an emergency lockdown.
Safety committee response
Mister Ridgeway reported the board’s safety committee had already gone through the Wildespark scenario with staff and first responders. He said the committee identified strengths in the response and also reviewed areas for improvement. "We did talk about it today at our safety meeting. Honestly, the red green, yellow, red idea came out," Ridgeway said, adding that the committee would not publicize operational details that could be exploited but that it would refine procedures and communications.
What happened (district description)
According to Ridgeway, a staff member and students reported a suspicious individual; bus riders saw activity and staff called 911. The district's resource officer and Emmet Township police responded, students were moved inside and doors were locked under the district's secure-mode response, and the incident was quickly resolved. Ridgeway and the safety committee discussed bus-discipline communications and coordination between principals and the district bus director as part of their review.
Next steps and community involvement
District officials said the safety committee will continue schoolsite visits in coming months and work to tighten parent communication and pickup/drop-off procedures. Ridgeway and safety committee members invited suggestions and said they would pursue practical, hardening measures while balancing the need to keep response plans confidential for safety reasons.
Ending
Board members thanked Ashley King for speaking and affirmed that safety improvements remain a priority.
