North Michigan News

State Rep. Ken Borton, R-Gaylord, has urged action on a bipartisan school safety plan that has yet to receive attention from the House Education Committee. Borton emphasized the importance of prioritizing school safety resources and initiatives, especially in the wake of the Oxford High School shooting in 2021.

“A bipartisan package to keep our kids safe seems like the perfect thing for the House to work on while we’re split 54-54,” Borton stated. He further added, “We need to refocus our attention away from inconsequential bills with limited impact and get back to the issues people care most about – that can start with securing school safety resources for kids back home.”

The proposed 13-bill legislative package, born out of the Bipartisan School Safety Task Force, aims to enhance school safety measures by establishing the School Safety and Mental Health Commission, expanding the OK2SAY system, allocating funds for school resource officers, and improving responses to school safety crises.

Highlighting the urgent need for additional resources, Borton emphasized, “School officials across the state have been explicitly clear about the need for additional resources to keep our kids safe. The school safety plan addresses some of those needs by getting more resource officers in schools, ensuring local authorities are contacted whenever a student utilizes OK2SAY, and equipping schools with quality crises plans for dangerous situations.”

In response to the lack of attention the plan has received, House Republican Education Committee members have called for a committee hearing. Two Democrats would need to join the five Republican members to authorize a committee meeting without approval from the chair.