Good morning, Oxford Community Schools Families,
We understand and appreciate that many of you have questions about actions the Oxford Community Schools Board and administration have taken since the tragic shooting at Oxford High School on November 30.
We are working on ways to more effectively and openly communicate those actions with our school families and with the community as a whole. We begin that process today by restating our priorities.
Oxford Community Schools Priorities
We want to determine exactly what happened in the events leading up to, on and after the November 30 shooting.
We’ll work to ensure the highest level of student and staff safety and, specifically, prevent another shooting at Oxford Community Schools.
We want to create an environment where students feel safe, supported and empowered to learn.
And finally, we hope that what we learn and implement will help reduce the risk of school shootings across the country.
What has been done to date?
Security Examination
In December, Secure Education Consultants – one of the top consulting firms in their field – launched a full examination of policies, procedures, and current physical operation as they relate to safety, security, and emergency preparedness at all our schools.
This audit was to evaluate whether the current security measures in place are appropriate and consistent with best practices.
While Oxford Community Schools’ level of preparation, emergency planning, and related safety and security operations is among the best they’ve observed, SEC identified narrow areas for improvement, and our administrative team has been working with SEC to implement improvements in those areas.
The full SEC report, including all recommendations, can be found on the district website.
Safety Committee/Subcommittee
We are also drawing on the expertise of our district safety committee, which includes representatives from area police and fire departments, local government and school administrators.
We recognize the need for ongoing parent input, as well, and we recently formed a parent sub-committee for safety.
Internal Security Service Enhancements
Based on research and recommendations from SEC, the district safety committee and the parent sub-committee, we have expanded our internal security service in the following ways:
- We contracted with a 3rd-party security firm to provide armed security personnel at every school building for the 2022-2023 school year.
- Last evening, the Board approved the purchase of a district-wide mass notification system that will provide both audio and visual alerts when activated.
- As announced last week, we will employ an ammunitions-detection dog at Oxford High School beginning at the start of the 2022-23 school year. This dog will be dedicated exclusively to Oxford Schools and will train with our lead security officer. This will allow for longevity and consistency of programming and will draw on the expertise of our own security officer who has been integral in our safe return to school. He’ll begin training with our new Labrador in August. Additionally, he has secured complimentary veterinarian services for the length of the dog’s time in Oxford.
Cutting Edge Technologies
Plus, we will integrate two new cutting-edge technologies that – along with the other security measures already in place – will make Oxford High School among the safest in the country.
First, we’ve already begun to upgrade our cameras at the high school to employ ZeroEyes technology, an AI platform that can detect weapons before shots are fired and automatically reports to emergency dispatch, enabling faster response times for first responders.
Next, Oxford High School will serve as a national pilot for Evolv Express, the fastest weapons screening system on the market. The system uses artificial intelligence to automatically detect a threat and can consistently and accurately screen 60 people every minute for firearms and other threats. That’s 10X faster than a traditional checkpoint system.
This is the same technology that was recently installed at several Disney properties, Six Flags theme parks and major convention centers and visitor attractions across the country.
We will take a closer look at these technologies at upcoming board meetings, plus families and the media will have the opportunity to view the systems in action prior to school opening in the fall.
Staff & Student Training
Many middle and high school students have already received training in how to download and use the OK2Say anonymous reporting app, and we’ll continue that training in the upcoming school year.
Our staff will be fully trained in the new technologies and continues to receive threat assessment and other mental health screening training.
Finally, we will resume ALICE drills and similar emergency preparedness training with staff and students in a sensitive way and with their advance knowledge.
What’s ahead?
Independent Investigation
As you know, we have initiated an independent investigation into the events surrounding the shooting on November 30.
We want to learn what led up to this tragedy, what happened immediately prior to and on the day of the shooting, and exactly how the school responded that day and in the days that followed.
To ensure the integrity of this investigation, we needed the best. It was critical that we select an independent team that’s highly experienced in conducting sensitive investigations of a similar nature.
The team at Guidepost Solutions, in partnership with Varnum Law, brings global experience working with K12 and higher educational institutions, nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and others on similar investigations.
The district is making all materials and information available to the investigative team.
The team will employ proven investigative and interview techniques that create a safe, non-threatening environment for students, family members and community members to share relevant information.
The investigative report will be an unbiased reflection of the team’s findings and will include actionable recommendations related to those findings. Guidepost will share their report with the community at the same time it’s shared with the board and school administration.
In the end, our goals are to maximize student and staff safety in the future and, specifically, to prevent another shooting at Oxford Community Schools.
Of course, independent investigations like these take time, and we will not sacrifice the integrity of the investigation with an artificial timeline. With that said, the investigation team is getting in place, getting up to speed, and getting ready to begin – and they will conduct and complete their work with deliberate care and speed.
Investigation Website & Email Address
In the meantime, we’ll develop and launch a website dedicated to our response to the events of November 30. We expect the site to be live in about a month.
It will include:
- Information about security investments and upgrades.
- Notifications announcing when families and the media can view the new security systems in action prior to school opening in the fall.
- Details about the nature and scope of the independent investigation and periodic updates on where we are in the process.
- Links to resources such as counseling services.
- And a secure email through which students, family members and members of the community can share information or request a meeting with investigators.
In fact, this secure email is available now. Those who would like to request a meeting or share information with investigators can contact them at [email protected].
This website is also where the final report and set of recommendations will be publicly posted.
Thank you
Again, we appreciate the questions and concerns expressed by so many in our community. We understand how difficult it is to wait while we all seek answers.
While we continue to ask for your patience and support through this painstaking process, we commit to a more open line of communication that we hope brings some measure of comfort and peace.
Sincerely, Tom Donnelly School Board President
