Lansing board presses for clearer student safety reporting, asks administration for plan

The Lansing Board of Education on Dec. 1 directed district administration to develop a concrete plan to strengthen how behavioral incidents and safety concerns are recorded, reported and communicated across the district.

The directive followed more than an hour of discussion during agenda item 7.1, during which board members, staff and parents described inconsistent referral practices at Lansing Elementary School (LES), possible deletions or non‑entry of referrals in Skyward and delays in notifying parents and law enforcement when incidents meet statutory thresholds. Board member Kirsten, who had requested the discussion, proposed objective thresholds (for example, three referrals or a removal to the focus room triggering elevated review) and asked district IT to explore whether referral entries in Skyward can be protected from deletion or editing after submission.

Kirsten said the changes would reduce subjectivity in discipline decisions and provide the documentation needed if subsequent, more serious action is required. “I think for LES it would be great if we establish rules…that had concrete numbers,” she said.

Board members and several parents and teachers described teachers who feel unsupported and fearful of reporting incidents. One board member cited statutes she said obligate the district to report incidents that, if committed by an adult, would be a misdemeanor or felony (identified in the meeting as 72‑6114, 72‑6143 and related provisions). The board urged clearer guidance on when law enforcement must be notified and emphasized that age does not prevent filing a police report, although charging decisions rest with prosecutors.

Superintendent Marty (name as used in the transcript) and staff did not dispute the need for better documentation. The board asked Marty to return next month with a draft plan that would: (1) clarify referral thresholds and reporting responsibilities K–12; (2) assess Skyward parameters to prevent deletions or invisible edits; (3) require same‑day parent notification when a classroom is cleared or a student is assaulted, including minutes of lost instructional time; (4) propose method and timeline for improving on‑site response times when teachers call for help; and (5) identify necessary policy changes and communication steps.

Several trustees also recommended that the policy committee and legal counsel (KASB was named as a resource in the discussion) review whether policy KN or the board code of ethics should be amended to address complaints involving board members and to require board approval before authorizing outside investigators for complaints against trustees.

The board reached consensus — and asked for a written draft from administration — rather than passing an immediate policy change. The chair also authorized a small subcommittee of board members to work with Marty and staff to consolidate recommendations and return them at the next business meeting.

Board members said the goal is to restore trust, reduce ambiguity in discipline processes and ensure staff who report misconduct are protected by whistleblower safeguards and clear documentation.