LANSING, Mich. — State Sen. Lana Theis on Thursday encouraged schools to take advantage of newly announced resources meant to help schools strengthen planning procedures for emergency situations.

Michigan law requires all K-12 schools to have an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in place to help ensure staff and students stay safe in the event of an emergency. An EOP outlines steps that students, teachers and school staff should take before, during and after a wide variety of emergency situations.

The Michigan State Police Office of School Safety (OSS) recently announced updated resources are available to assist schools with developing or updating their EOP.

“When it comes to the safety in our schools, it’s important that we leave no stone unturned,” said Theis, R-Brighton.

“Having a thorough, carefully outlined emergency plan in place will ensure students and staff are aware of what to do in a number of emergency situations and help keep everyone safe. With preparedness comes a certain level of peace of mind. These updated guidelines focus on mental health, cyber security, physical security, threat assessments, crisis support, and response planning. I encourage all schools to take advantage of these resources and revisit their current emergency protocols.”

The OSS works in partnership with the Michigan Department of Education to:

• Assist in the development of model practices for school safety and engage with local law enforcement agencies to assess school buildings for which emergency operations plans are being developed.
• Seek and apply for federal funds relating to school safety and reducing violence and disruptions in schools.
• Provide staff support to the School Safety Commission, which is responsible for making recommendations to the OSS.

The updated resource list can be found on the OSS webpage.

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