TY FOR TCAPS

While we wait for the outcome of the lawsuit — and for our special school board meeting to decide whether to accept or decline the state’s school safety funds — it’s been interesting to see how other districts are navigating the same issue.

Why Detroit Public Schools Community District recently agreed to the waiver:

1. The funding is too essential to walk away from

• Without it, Detroit would have had to cut positions that keep students mentally, emotionally, and physically safe.

2. The requirement stems from the Oxford aftermath

• The intent of the law is tied to school safety accountability after the 2021 Oxford tragedy, even though the language itself remains a major concern.

3. Michigan’s liability landscape is shifting

• Changes to immunity laws are already in motion statewide — with or without the waiver.

4. The funding cliff is real

• Like us, Detroit Schools relies on these dollars to support student success liaisons, counselors, mental health staff, and security teams.

5. Detroit Schools accepted the funds and joined the lawsuit

• Accepting the money doesn’t mean endorsing the waiver. It means protecting student support positions while simultaneously challenging the legality of the requirements.

As we weigh this decision locally, I keep coming back to our “Students First” value. Protecting the supports that keep kids safe, connected, and cared for must remain at the center of every choice we make.

Read the full Chalkbeat story.