Manistique Public Schools hold special school safety meetings to discuss parents’ concerns

MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WLUC) – More than 150 parents expressed their concerns about safety at Manistique Public Schools on Tuesday. This came after some parents alleged that students had been threatened.

Parents packed the Manistique High School auditorium on Tuesday evening for a special school safety meeting. Superintendent Kristina Hansen outlined what safety protocols are already in place and how the district is working closely with city and county law enforcement agencies.

Parents have expressed concerns about recent threats and abuse. Hansen says school principals and staff are on the front lines of keeping the school safe.

“Every training we have attended regarding school safety emphasizes, first and foremost, the importance of contacts and relationships with students, and this is truly the perspective from which we operate. Our school staff do a fantastic job of building relationships because they are the first to notice if something is wrong,” Hansen said.

Earlier this month, law enforcement investigated a text message threat. The investigation found no credible threats against any Schoolcraft County schools at that time.

Parents at Tuesday’s meeting were upset because they say the threat was investigated and only reported to parents after the investigation was completed.

“If it weren’t for this Facebook post, would you have even told us? Since we are parents we should have known about it that day and it didn’t take someone posting something on Facebook for us all to realize that, that’s a damn failure on your part ma’am,” one parent said.

Manistique’s public safety director says law enforcement can’t reveal all tactics to stay ahead of future threats.

“You will never know what we will do next, because if our tactics are 100% proven, if our planning is 100% ready, if we tell you everything we communicate, everyone else knows about it and will be much more more ahead, we’ll release as much as we can,” said Tim Russell, Manistique’s director of public safety.

The next Manistique Public School Board meeting is scheduled for November 20.