House Speaker Jase Bolger 'shocked' by school safety flaws found in MLive investigation
- Related article: Some Washtenaw County schools break state law by not complying with safety drill requirements
The MLive Media Group series on school safety shocked House Speaker Jase Bolger, according to a statement released Wednesday.
Jase Bolger
“As a parent, I am shocked, sad and afraid to learn that schools are not following requirements to keep our kids safe,” Bolger said in a statement. “As a legislator, I am disappointed to see that schools are not doing these required safety measures."
The investigation by MLive’s outlets across the state showed many schools are not complying with state law requiring six fire drills, two tornado drills and two Code Red drills each school year. MLive reporters surveyed 400 schools across 100 school districts in the state.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Mike
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 : 11:47 a.m.
That seems like a lot of drills, basically one a month................Who came up with this number? Was this negotiated into the teachers contract or something some bureaucrat dreamed up? Seems like he could be spending his time solving more important matters.
An Arborigine
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 : 4:52 a.m.
He's "shocked" that there is gambling going on in this establishment! Where did I hear that before, Oh Casablanca!
st.julian
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 : 2 a.m.
Is he shocked that his raiding of the k-12 funds have had a deleterious effect on school programming?
jns131
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 : 12:10 a.m.
I have to disagree with this statement when it comes to lock down in AAPS schools. Remember those rash of bank robberies in September of 2010? I could not even come close to Tappan with out being told I would get arrested if I tried. They eventually told parents to come get their children but still, wow, scary. Hate to say it, you can omit AAPS on lock downs and keeping children safe. I still laugh when I think of getting my child and getting arrested for getting her.
SpamBot1
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 10:34 p.m.
Perhaps Jase will see the general response to his statement and realize that the public has no confidence in anything that he says. Even when he discusses the safety of children, voters have to question his intentions.
15crown00
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 9:44 p.m.
what exactly are you shocked about?you and your cohorts action are the cause of the problem.
Wondering
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 8:17 p.m.
Lots of stirring of the pot regarding public education these days. I guess all that pot stirring could also make a civic-minded person sad and shocked.......and wondering about the purpose. Perhaps it might also be useful to investigate how our legislators are choosing to allocate the shrinking pot of public dollars, and at what regulations are being required and whether those regulations are the best way to expend our limited tax dollars to ensure the safety of our children. LXIX's comment that compliance inspection and a full force of firefighters nearby (supplemented by a small number of drills) seems like it could be a more sensible approach to prevention when dollar resources and teaching time are already quite limited.
walker101
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 7:59 p.m.
Schools are only as good as their leaders.
clownfish
Thu, Mar 14, 2013 : 12:44 p.m.
That would be the gov and Speaker.
LXIX
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 7:51 p.m.
Excellent !Lansing is going to ensure that Fire Chief Hubbard will now get all his money for proactive staffing and firefighter needs. Whoopee! The single most fire-preventative action is compliance inspection (not frill drills). If that fails then a full force of firefighters nearby is necessary.. Shocked Speaker Bolger will undoubtably be showing how much he truly cares about school kids when he sends his yearly check to Chief Hubbard Ann Arbor FIre Department North 5th Ave Ann Arbor MI 48104
hmsp
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 7:37 p.m.
I'm disappointed to see that there is no accompanying video of Jase striding back and forth, flapping his arms. Shocked, I tell you! Shocked! Sheesh!
beardown
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 6:47 p.m.
"and two Code Red drills each school year." Like from A Few Good Men? That doesn't seem very sporting or necessary. "As a legislator, I am disappointed to see that schools are not doing these required safety measures." Alright, then do something about it instead of just throwing out soundbites. And maybe funding the schools might be a good start.
Kyle Feldscher
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 7:05 p.m.
beardown - If you want the truth, I think you can handle the truth: Code Red drills are more commonly called lockdown drills. This response just proves you want me in this comment section, YOU NEED ME IN THIS COMMENT SECTION.
fjord
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 6:09 p.m.
If the schools actually were carrying out all the required drills, Bolger would probably complain that they're wasting taxpayer money having everyone stand around outside ... and wasting more taxpayer money heating the buildings while everyone was outside. And then use that as an excuse to cut even more school funding. I'm shocked that Bolger and his cronies continue to shift money away from the middle class and poor and to corporations and his rich campaign contributors. But that's just me.
John
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 6:07 p.m.
Really Jase? Your shocked?? Perhaps what's not shocking is the FRAUD THAT YOU ARE! http://www.michigandems.com/2012/05/ house-gop-lies-deceit-and-election-fraud/ http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/ 18/1111354/-Jaw-dropping-election -fraud-by-Michigan-GOP-House-Speaker-Jase-Bolger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujBygoT-8io
Ignatz
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 5:53 p.m.
Maybe he'll cut all funding to schools so that they have to shut down. No schools, no drills!
dsponini
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 6:08 p.m.
I'm sure there is a GOP plan in the works to do just that.
DBH
Wed, Mar 13, 2013 : 5:45 p.m.
Perhaps the other schools in Michigan are simply following the example of "the LEADERS and BEST." You know, The University of Michigan. They might figure if it's good enough for UM, it's good enough for them. http://annarbor.com/news/education/u-m-official-university-uses-measures-outside-of-state-requirements-to-prepare-students-for-emergenc/