The Oxford High School tragedy serves as a painful reminder that school districts are about so much more than just teaching and learning. Please keep the Oxford Community, their students and staff members in your thoughts and hearts.
November 30, 2021
Dear Bedford Public Schools families:
As you likely have already heard, there was a school shooting incident today at Oxford High School. During this difficult time, our thoughts remain with Oxford Community Schools students, teachers, and staff who were impacted by today’s devastating events.
We understand news of this nature so close to home can be difficult for both parents and students. Please know that your student’s safety and well-being remain our number one priority. Like all school districts, BPS is committed to creating a safe school environment where students can learn and grow.
To that end, we wanted to remind you of the various safety protocols we have in place to protect students, teachers, and staff. Our safety measures include, but are not limited to: dedicated Monroe County Sheriff Deputies assigned to both secondary and elementary levels, secure visitor entryways at every building, active shooter training/drills for staff and students using
ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), emergency egress windows in classrooms, and we are currently installing a state of the art comprehensive security surveillance system at all district facilities. Additionally, Bedford Public Schools employs dedicated Mental Health Professionals at all levels.
While we are confident in these safety protocols, we know that we need the support of the entire community to protect the children we are privileged to serve. Thus, we would ask that you speak to your children and urge them to reach out to school officials directly or through the State of Michigan’s Okay2Say tip line at 8-555-OK2SAY or
[email protected] if they hear of any potentially dangerous situations. Additionally, if you become aware of a potential safety issue in our district, please follow the same steps as above.
We understand that our students, families, teachers, and staff may need support in the coming days. Please know that professional members of our District Mental Health Team will be available to our school community. Do not hesitate to reach out to our school counselors and team members (including building leadership) should you or your child need support.
We remain committed to working together as a community to ensure learning takes place in a safe environment.
Sincerely,
Dr. Carl Shultz
Superintendent, Bedford Public Schools
Additional Resources:
Talking to Children About Violence: Tips for Parents and Teachers
School Violence Prevention: Tips for Parents & Educators