Birmingham Schools to Implement New Security Policies Starting Tuesday

Beginning Tuesday, new security guards will be stationed at locked front doors at all Birmingham school buildings. In addition, Pierce Elementary begins a test of an intercom-based visitor notification system.

Parents dropping off or picking up kids from school will find security a little tighter today as Birmingham Public Schools begins to implement new security measures Tuesday — most notably, locked doors and security guards manning the front doors of all buildings. Also today, parents of Pierce Elementary students will start test-piloting a new "vistor notification system" (VNS) involving intercoms, security cameras and buzzers at all the school's main doors. The new safety measures are part of a month-long review of security policies at Birmingham Public Schools, sparked by the shooting at a Newtown, CT, elementary school in mid-December. Immediately after the shooting, Birmingham Superintendent Daniel Nerad announced that the district …

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Courteney Gettel

9:35 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013

So I was working tonight (lice is seriously on the rise again) and happened to speak to a staff member at one of the schools. They told me that these people are paid to sit at the door and only get 2 15 minute breaks during the school day. They are paid to eat their lunch sitting at the door. No desk, just a chair. Are you kidding me???? I agree with Racer Boy. Again, lovely $250K (at least) band…   more ›

Birmingham Schools Will Start Locking Front Doors During the Day

As part of a short-term plan to beef up security throughout the school district, locked front doors at Birmingham school buildings will soon be manned by security personnel.

As part of a district-wide review of school safety and security policies, Birmingham Public Schools will soon start locking the front doors of all school buildings during the day and hire security guards to regulate visitors. Superintendent Daniel Nerad made the announcement at the Tuesday meeting of the Birmingham Board of Education. "This is done in the memory of the victims of Sandy Hook," Nerad said, adding, "We should do as much as we reasonably can to ensure there is enough safety (at our schools)." The decision was made as part of a month-long review of security policies at Birmingham Public Schools, sparked by the shooting at a Newtown, CT, elementary school in mid-December. Immediately after the shooting, Nerad announced that the …

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Oakland County Teachers Will Receive Active Shooter Training

The sheriff's office, Oakland Schools and the county's Homeland Security division will collaborate on the training program.

Teachers and school staff from across Oakland County will receive expert training in the next two months on how to react in an active school shooter situation. County officials said Friday that the Oakland County Sheriff's Office and the county's Homeland Security Division will conduct five training sessions for school personnel starting in two weeks. In addition, Sheriff Michael Bouchard will give active shooter presentations on site at various schools in the county. Bouchard has received numerous requests for the presentations, he said. "Active shooter situations are unpredictable and evolve quickly, which requires people on the scene to be prepared both mentally and physically while waiting for law enforcement to arrive,” Bouchard said …

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Letters to the Editor

Area Pastor: Turn to God for Strength, Hope on Christmas

As the nation mourns the deaths of students at Sandy Hook Elementary School, local pastors remind Birmingham residents that God's love will prevail.

This letter was received by Birmingham Patch Editor Laura Houser. From Thanksgiving Day on, it seemed as though you could sense a growing atmosphere of joy and happiness in anticipation of the upcoming celebration of Christmas. The stores filled with shoppers, the lighted trees and carol singing all added to the joy of the season. Then came the news of the massacre of 20 children and 6 adults in Newtown, Conn. two Fridays ago, which sent shock waves all across this country. We have felt the grief and pain of the parents and families of these children whose lives were taken and the adults who died trying to protect them. How can we celebrate Christmas in the wake of this tragedy? What can help us find peace and joy in the midst of this …

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Police Respond to Threatening Tweet From Groves Student

Police and school officials were alerted overnight to a Groves student writing "tweets of a threatening nature" and later took the student into custody. Groves principal says student safety is a top priority.

A Groves High School student is in custody Friday morning after he was accused of sending out a threatening tweet on Twitter, said Groves principal Fred Procter Friday. In a note sent to parents, Procter said school officials were alerted overnight to "tweets of a threatening nature" generated by one of the school's underclassmen. The Beverly Hills Police Department was also alerted and able to "very quickly and appropriately" identify the source of the tweets and soon after took them into custody, Procter said. "I have been in constant contact with the Beverly Hills Police and have been given their assurance that there is no credible threat at Groves," Procter wrote in the Friday email. "While some chose to re-tweet the message, others …

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Patch, State of Michigan, to Take Part in Moment of Silence for Newtown

Patch sites across the country will take part in a Web Moment of Silence on Friday, and Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has requested that state residents pause to remember those lost last week.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has asked for a statewide moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. Friday, and Patches in Michigan and across the country will join in a Web Moment of Silence to mark the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Snyder said the moment of silence was requested by Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy, who issued a proclamation calling on the citizens of Connecticut to observe December 21, 2012, as a day of mourning. Malloy sent a letter to all the nation's governors asking them to observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the fallen. Patch sites across the country will mark the tragedy at 9:30 a.m. EST. Among other sites taking part in the Web Moment of Silence are AOL, Adobe, Foursquare, Hacker News, Duke …

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Snyder Vetoes Bill That Would Have Allowed Guns in Schools

The bill would have allowed concealed weapons in gun-free zones such as schools and sports arenas.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has vetoed a bill that would have allowed concealed weapons into public schools and sports arena, according to a report on Michigan Public Radio. The Michigan Legislature passed Senate Bill 59 late last week that would have allowed concealed weapons in gun-free zones, but in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, CT, many had called for Snyder to veto the legislation. David Hecker, Michigan President of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) said in a Friday statement, "We’re aghast that this lame duck legislature thinks it’s a good idea to put MORE guns in our schools, let alone places of worship or sports arenas." "The House passed SB 59 on Thursday," he added. "How dare these lame duck legislators put the …

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