Comprising 11 elementary schools, two middle schools, three high schools, and a smattering of preschool locations, TCAPS serves more than 10,000 students and is northwest Michigan’s largest public-school district. 

That’s a lot of ground to cover (300 square miles to be exact) and a lot of kids to account for. In light of the national uptick in school shootings throughout the last several years—23 of which have taken place this year alone—ensuring the safety of students and staff on campus is a top priority for TCAPS officials as kids head back to school next week.

“We can’t just sit on our heels and not take advantage of new ideas that are out there,” says TCAPS Superintendent Dr. John VanWagoner. “We’ve got to find every resource we can to make sure we’re making our schools as safe as possible.”

This week's Northern Express, sister publication of The Ticker, looks at the latest strategies from TCAPS to protect staff and students, from developing a threat protocol in conjunction with local emergency management to utilizing updated lockdown drills to hiring a new Safety and Security Coordinator to increasing efforts to address mental health. The Northern Express is available to read online, or pick up a free copy on newsstands at nearly 700 spots in 14 counties across northern Michigan.