Safety and Security

As part of the district’s mission to prepare all students to be lifelong learners and engaged citizens in a safe and supportive environment, we understand the great importance of creating a safe and supportive learning space.

We know that students learn best when they feel safe, feel a sense of belonging, and understand their important role in the learning process.

Security Measures at Bloomfield Hills Schools

Exterior doors remain secured during school hours, with designated entry points. Visitors must be granted access by a staff member.
Visitors must sign in at the front office of the school for a visitor pass.
Each building is equipped with camera systems allowing for targeted video surveillance.
Currently, Bloomfield Hills Schools has 2 School Resource Officers from the Bloomfield Township Police Department that assist the whole district and an Administrator of Public Safety.
Bloomfield Hills High School has assigned hall monitors that work with administration to create a safe environment by monitoring student movement and behavior.
The District has established safety protocols that are implemented across all our buildings. These guidelines cover a range of situations, including fire, severe weather, medical emergencies, and building-related incidents.

FAQs

What is ALICE® Training?

Bloomfield Hills Schools is dedicated to providing an exemplary education to our students. In order for our students to become successful learners, we hold as one of our highest priorities providing a safe learning environment. We also believe that school safety is a fluid concept with intentional layers of support for our students and staff, and we work diligently to continuously monitor and evaluate our safety protocols and procedures.

Bloomfield Hills School, in partnership with the Bloomfield Township Police Department, uses ALICE® (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) protocols. ALICE® prepares our staff to recognize and respond if there ever is an emergency/lockdown situation. ALICE® is recognized across the country as an additional component to the traditional “lockdown” response.

ALICE® Acronym
The acronym will help in responding to a critical incident, and consists of five strategies:
Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, and Evacuate.

The purpose of ALERT is to notify as many people as possible that a potentially life-threatening risk exists.
The purpose of LOCKDOWN is to secure in place, and prepare to EVACUATE or COUNTER, if needed.
The purpose of INFORM is to communicate in real time the location of an intruder.
The purpose of COUNTER is to interrupt the intruder in an attempt to make it difficult or impossible to aim, or carry out a threat. This is a strategy of last resort.
The purpose of EVACUATE is to remove yourself from the danger zone, when it is safe to do so.

ALICE® is not sequential, nor is it meant to be a checklist of things to do. It is a list of options that can be used to stay safe in the event of a critical incident.

What terminology will be used?

Lockdown: A lockdown (one strategy of ALICE®) is the complete shutdown of a building in the event of an imminent threat within the building. In the event of a lockdown, no external visitors may enter a building. ALICE® procedures will be utilized during a lockdown. The “L” in ALICE® is for Lockdown, a classroom door is locked and will only be reopened by law enforcement. The occupants of the room will secure themselves within the room.

Shelter-In-Place: The term shelter-in-place will be used when an external threat is close to or at another BHS location, but off school property, or when there is an incident or threat within the school building that requires students and staff to stay in one place. Families will not be able to pick up children during a shelter in place.

Evacuation: This is where there is a need to move the occupants of a building from one location to another. Predominantly because the environment within that location is unsafe to remain in. This could be due to a gas leak, HAZMAT situation, water main break, etc. This is not the same as exiting the building due to an ALICE® incident.

Family Assistance Site: A family assistance site is the location that is communicated to families following an evacuation of a building for any reason. Students will be transported to a predetermined site where a system will be put in place to connect families with their students. This location will only be communicated to families in the event of an emergency.

What is Safety Week?

Safety Week is a way for the district to reinforce our safety protocols and systems and to ensure that our communication systems are in proper working order for all individuals in our school community. It takes place during America's Safe Schools Week (typically mid-October) which is sponsored by the National School Safety Center, state governors, and state school superintendents.

During Safety Week, students experience preparedness training, meet with our school resource officers and police partners, and learn more about reporting tools. The district also tests our communication systems allowing us to locate and correct any issues.

How will the district communicate with me in the event of an emergency?

Bloomfield Hills Schools will use Remind to communicate with families, including for snow days, emergencies, school closures, and other important updates.

To stay informed, please keep your phone number and email up to date in the Parent Portal. This automatically syncs with Remind, ensuring we have your most current contact details.

Please do not update your information directly in Remind; use the Parent Portal instead. Note that it may take up to 24 hours for changes to take effect.

Who does Bloomfield Hills Schools partner with for safety and security?

Does Bloomfield Hills Schools have an emergency operations plan?

Bloomfield Hills Schools is equipped with an emergency operations plan that is updated each year to ensure staff can respond effectively and with confidence during emergencies. This plan is developed through joint efforts with the school district, education experts, first responders, and emergency management authorities. It adheres to guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Education, Michigan State Police, and Oakland County.

How are threats evaluated?

A threat assessment involves identifying, evaluating, and managing individuals of concern at Bloomfield Hills Schools who may pose a risk. A trained, multidisciplinary team is responsible for early intervention. The process begins when someone exhibits concerning behavior, which may not always include a direct threat. The team gathers information to assess the risk and implements strategies to manage it.

We thank our students, staff, and families for helping us by reporting suspicious behavior. Please review our reporting tools, like OK2SAY, to stay involved. Together, our community's vigilance strengthens our safety.

Ensure Correct Contact Information in Parent Portal

Families can stay prepared by updating their phone numbers and email addresses in the Parent Portal.

Parent Portal syncs with Remind, which is the tool that we use to communicate with our families in many ways, including snow days, school closures, or important updates. Updating your information in the Parent Portal will ensure the district has your most up-to-date contact information on record. Do not update your information in Remind directly, please use the Parent Portal. Please note it may take up to 24 hours for your information to be updated.

We are committed to maintaining a safe learning environment in Bloomfield Hills Schools. Students and families are encouraged to please report incidents of bias and hate using our reporting tool. The district has dedicated support staff prepared to assist with this tool and support individuals who report an incident.

Report Incidents of Hate and Bias

OK2SAY is the student safety program which allows students to confidentially report tips on potential harm or criminal activities directed at students, school employees, and schools.

Submit a Tip to OK2Say

Click below for a list of resources about mental health, talking to children about traumatic events, and more.

Resources

In December 2021, the BHS Board of Education passed a resolution in support of gun safety and safe gun storage. As part of the resolution, the district periodically disseminates material stressing the importance of secure storage of firearms.

BE SMART GUN SAFETY

Our Safety Team

Patrick Sidge

Administrator of Public Safety

This position works in collaboration with district and school administration, along with local police and fire departments, to review and establish appropriate guidelines, procedures, and plans to ensure safe and secure schools.

Officer Lower

School Resource Officer

Officer Lower brings a wealth of experience to our district, having been a valued member of the Bloomfield Township Police Department since 2002 including her role as the Peer Support Coordinator and Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Lower is passionate about being a positive role model for students and making a meaningful difference in their lives.

Officer Riney

School Resource Officer

Officer Riney has accumulated more than 17 years of experience in various departments. His previous roles as a road patrol officer, field training officer, special investigations unit officer, and Michigan State Police Narcotics task force officer have equipped him with a diverse skill set that will greatly contribute to the district’s safety and security efforts. Riney strongly believes that his assignment at Bloomfield Hills Schools will be immensely rewarding, as he is committed to ensuring that students and teachers feel safe to learn.