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East Lansing School District details response to two swatting threats, plans after-action review
Summary
Superintendent Leo told the board that two swatting calls prompted lockdowns and evacuations at East Lansing High School; the district used the Standard Response Protocol and will hold a facilitated after-action review with local law enforcement and a school-safety consultant.
The East Lansing School District board heard Wednesday that two swatting calls at East Lansing High School prompted emergency responses but resulted in no physical injuries, and that the district will convene an after-action review to refine procedures.
Superintendent Leo said the district used the Standard Response Protocol (SRP) from the I Love You Guys Foundation to guide responses, including room holds, secure mode, lockdown and evacuation. "Student and staff safety was prioritized," Leo said, adding he was "thankful that no one was ever in danger" during the incidents.
Leo described Friday’s response as an evacuation to the athletic stadium before dismissal and said Tuesday’s call prompted a lockdown that locked interior and exterior doors and placed students out of sight. He said room holds are used when the district needs to clear common areas while classroom activity continues, and secure mode limits visitors when an incident could escalate.
The superintendent said the district invited the East Lansing Police Department, Meridian Township Police Department and Michigan State University Police to participate in a facilitated after-action review led by Jason Russell of Secure Environmental, a school-safety consultant that has worked with the district since 2021. Two of the three agencies had agreed to participate at the time of the report.
Leo warned that tracing the origin of swatting calls can be difficult "in the age of AI" and said law enforcement has asked for additional detective-resources to assist with tracking. He also stressed the district’s intent to avoid publishing detailed emergency operation plans to reduce vulnerability and said the board will be asked to take action on an updated emergency operation plan before fall 2026 based on a new state template.
Board members praised staff and administrators for swift action and for supporting students’ mental-health needs after the incidents. Trustees also highlighted communication lessons learned: designate multiple communication leads, provide both building-level and districtwide updates, and ensure redundancy for alert systems.
The superintendent said the after-action review will examine what went well and where improvements are needed; he plans to report back to the board with the review’s takeaways at a future meeting.
