Haslett board approves shared safety director agreement with Okamus under 31A grant

Haslett Public Schools trustees voted June 22 to approve a cooperative agreement to share a grant‑funded part‑time safety director with Okamus Public Schools and Secure Environments Consulting (SEC).

Superintendent reported that Okamus offered its experienced safety director and that the partnership provides year‑round access rather than school‑year coverage. The superintendent said the position will be supported by the state section 31A mental health and safety grant and that draft agreements with SEC and Okamus were included in the meeting packet.

Board members discussed structure and accountability for a shared position. One member praised the change because it provided a 12‑month presence rather than limited seasonal coverage: "I approve this type of change because we get someone for 12 months versus just nine months," a trustee said. The board asked for clear evaluation and expectations in the cooperative agreement to ensure predictable responsibilities across districts.

The agreement was described as a 40/60 split: Haslett would fund 40 percent of the time and Okamus 60 percent. Trustees also noted the practical benefit of sharing Meridian Township police as a common local partner.

The board voted to approve the superintendent signing the cooperative agreements with Okamus Public Schools and Secure Environments Consulting. The motion passed after discussion; board members stressed that the cooperative agreement should clarify evaluation and the cadence of work across districts.