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GRPS safety chief details drills, cameras and training as incidents fall
Summary
Grand Rapids Public Schools’ head of safety reported lower major incidents, widespread camera and access upgrades, expanded training and a districtwide emergency plan rollout; board members pressed for details on bus cameras, Raptor use and training logistics.
Larry Johnson, GRPS chief of staff and head of safety and security, told the Board of Education on June 20 that major incidents in the district declined this year and that no guns were found on campus during the 2025–26 school year. Johnson outlined a multi‑part safety program that included enhanced video surveillance, access control upgrades, extensive staff training and a new emergency operations app slated for district rollout this fall.
The presentation, introduced by Superintendent Dr. Roby, said the district completed large numbers of drills (the presenter reported roughly the district goal of five fire drills, three emergency drills and two tornado drills per building, with two required drills missed at two sites). Johnson noted that about 54 buildings underwent critical‑incident mapping, the district has secured five confidential reunification sites, and that most academic sites now have installed or upgraded cameras; cameras are also now on buses.
Johnson described a multi‑phase access‑control upgrade, starting with a card‑access pilot at Ken Hills and expanding into remodeled or newly opened buildings. He said the current card system was decades old and that new systems offer better operational data and options such as secondary secured entryways (office-to-hallway buzz systems) to reduce unauthorized access into classroom wings.
Board members asked several follow‑up questions. Trustee Williams sought data on bus‑camera use and enforcement; Johnson said all buses have cameras and staff have reviewed footage in response to parental concerns but that day‑to‑day bus operations reside with the communications office. Trustee Moreno asked Johnson to define “major incidents”; Johnson said that category includes aggravated assaults with serious injury, weapons on campus and major break‑ins — and said those types of incidents were down this year, while vaping possession rose.
Johnson emphasized training as a cornerstone of the district’s approach. He told the board his safety team receives substantially more training than the national average — he cited roughly 80–120 hours annually for his officers compared with a 20‑hour average he described for many school security programs — and said GRPS runs an internal School Safety Leadership Academy and field‑training officer program. The district also plans mandated behavior threat assessment teams in each building and a full transition to standard response protocol language.
On visitor management, Johnson acknowledged low uptake of the Raptor system in some schools and said the district must continue community outreach to address privacy and immigration concerns about card‑swipe data. He also said the district collected 2,000 gun locks from state police for distribution and plans community forums on school safety over the summer.
The presentation closed with operational notes about summer staffing (five buildings will have on‑site staffing), mobile patrols and plans for increasing vape‑detectors where use is high. Johnson said an emergency operations app and a desk reference version of the crisis manual will be launched in August, and that subsequent professional learning and in‑person training will accompany the tools.
The board did not take formal action on the presentation. Johnson offered to share additional operational details and training schedules with board members who requested them.
