Letter from Superintendent on MSU Tragedy

Support Available to BPS Community
Posted on 02/14/2023
Update from the Superintendent, Dr. Carl ShultzFebruary 14, 2023

Dear Bedford Public Schools Families:

Late yesterday evening, we learned of the active shooter situation that was taking place on the campus of Michigan State University. While this morning’s reports are that the suspect has been found (deceased) and the campus is once again safe, our thoughts remain with Michigan State University’s students, faculty, family members and friends who were impacted by last evening’s devastating events.

It is not clear at this moment if any BPS alumni or individuals connected with our community were injured or directly affected in this tragedy. However, 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 wellbeing remain our number one priority and that BPS is committed to a safe school environment.

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 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
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