Emergency Response and Threat Assessment

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The Plymouth-Canton Community School District is committed to ensuring the safety of students and schools, considering it a top priority and a core value within the district. In line with this commitment, P-CCS treats any threats made to a student, staff member, or school with utmost seriousness. The establishment of a secure learning environment is crucial for the primary mission of teaching, learning, and achieving student success.

All schools within P-CCS maintain trained threat assessment teams equipped with specific tools to thoroughly investigate threats and take necessary actions to safeguard students, staff, and school premises. The threat assessment protocol is treated as confidential information among those involved. While specific details may not be shared, the district is committed to disclosing relevant information to ensure the safety of all students and staff. Immediate actions may include emergency removal of a student and, if necessary, the temporary closure of a school based on the nature of the threat. 

P-CCS encourages students and families to collaborate with the district in reporting any statements, social media posts, or other information that poses a threat to the school community. Students are advised to share such information with a parent/guardian, trusted adult, or use the following reporting options:

  • P-CCS Safety and Security Anonymous Tip Line (734) 416-2920

  • OK2Say: 8-555-OK2Say, Text 65279, OK2SSAY@mi.gov

  • Emergency Services: Call 911

Steps in Threat Assessment:

When the district staff learns of a threat, immediate action is taken:

  1. Immediate action is taken to determine the origin of the threat.

  2. A thorough assessment is conducted to determine if the threat is transient or substantive, guiding subsequent actions.

  3. Local law enforcement is notified if the threat is deemed substantive.

It is a district protocol to place the student identified as making the threat on emergency removal during the investigation, with potential further time away from school depending on the investigation's outcome. Parents will be asked about the means used if the threat involves any type of weapon, and the police will conduct follow-up. Child Protective Services (CPS) may be contacted based on the situation. 

P-CCS collaborates closely with local law enforcement agencies, including Canton and Plymouth Township and City of Plymouth Police Departments. Law enforcement will be engaged, and a police report will be filed. Making threats to schools is a felony under Michigan Law (MCL 750-235b).

All P-CCS schools adhere to these protocols. Trained threat assessment teams work diligently, even during evenings and weekends, to identify the threat's origin and resolve the situation. Efforts are made to support the student who made the threat, emphasizing both assistance and minimizing disciplinary action, as appropriate.

P-CCS urges its community of students and parents to collaborate in fostering a school culture of safety. While the threat assessment process will discern jokes, emails, social media posts, statements made in anger, or figures of speech without intent to harm, students are encouraged to consider the seriousness of their words before making such threats. 

The district appreciates the partnership of the P-CCS community in developing and ensuring a culture of safety within its schools.

Emergency Response / Threat Assessment

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools uses nationally recognized guidelines to establish district specific Emergency Operations Plans and Threat Assessment protocols. Information on emergency operations planning and threat assessments can be found through these links. 

Michigan State Police Office of School Safety

The Comprehensive School Threat Assessment Guidelines 

Enhancing School Safety Using a Threat Assessment Model

U.S. Secret Service Averting Targeted School Violence