Safety & Security

MISSION STATEMENT: The Troy School District (TSD) mission is to foster an environment where every student, educator, and staff member feels safe, secure, and supported within our TSD community. We recognize that ensuring school safety is not just a duty but a shared responsibility among all stakeholders. Our approach encompasses comprehensive measures designed to prevent, detect, and respond to any potential threats or emergencies, while also promoting a culture of respect, inclusivity, and trust.

Through proactive risk assessments, robust emergency preparedness training, comprehensive safety protocols and collaborative partnerships with the Troy Police Department, Troy Fire Department, Oakland County Emergency Management, and community organizations, we strive to create a learning environment that prioritizes the physical and emotional well-being of all individuals. Our commitment to continuous improvement drives us to implement evidence-based strategies, leverage technological advancements, and engage in ongoing dialogue with stakeholders to adapt to evolving safety challenges and emerging best practices. Together, we work tirelessly to cultivate a TSD climate where every member feels empowered to speak up, act, and contribute to a culture of safety, resilience, and excellence.

Todd Gilevich

Director of Safety & Security

(248) 823-4040

tgilevich@troy.k12.mi.us

Safety Resources & Protocols

Behavioral Threat Assessment / Risk Management

What is Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA)?

An evidence-based approach, developed from extensive research and practice, to:

TSD_Behavioral Threat .Assessment Cone Chart

Threat assessment teams use a systematic process to investigate concerning behaviors and communications to evaluate the risk of violence. The goal is prevention and to provide intervention and support for students who are at risk of violence. The threat assessment process is also focused on supporting victims or potential victims and taking appropriate measures to maintain a safe and secure school environment.

Is Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) Required?

Following standards of best practice and research, TSD policy establishes protocols for conducting threat assessments to respond to reports of concerning behavior and communications. All TSD, schools will follow this policy consistently.

TSD policy and operational guidelines align witht he National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), "Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management (BTAM) Best Practice Considerations for K-12 Schools," recommended by the State of Michigan.

TSD Behavioral Threat Assessment Team
Discipline & the BTA Process

TSD Behavioral Threat Assessment Team

The TSD Behavioral Threat Assessment Program is organized around threat assessment teams that have been formed at each TSD school. All TSD team members have received specialized behavioral threat assessment training based on operational guidance and research promulgated by the National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) of the United States Secret Service. The NTAC model is regarded as a premier approach to preventing targeted violence in schools.

Discipline & the BTA Process

Behavioral Threat Assessment is not a disciplinary process. Rather, BTA is intended to prevent violenve and other adverse outcomes by providing assistance and intervention to students who may be on a pathway to violence.

However, irrespective of the threat assessment process, disciplinary action and/or referral to law enforcement shall occur as required by Board policy and state law.

Addressing Concerning Behaviors & Threats of Violence in the TSD

When a student demonstrates concerning behaviors or communicates direct or indirect threats that may pose a danger to the safety of students or staff, a threat assessment team conducts a risk assessment. The team includes the following as needed:

School Administrator
School Social Worker or Psychologist
Counselor
Teacher, as needed
Other Staff Member, as needed

A threat assessment may be initiated by such events as verbal threats, aggressive behaviors, and other concerning communications, writings, drawings, and behaviors that do not essentially involve threatening statements or actions.

We know from research that "making a threat" is not a necessary condition for "posing a threat" to self or others, so our focus is on early-staged red flag behaviors before they escalate to violence or a threatening situation. Therefore, we interchangeably use the terms "risk assessment" and "threat assessment" to emphasize that our focus is on preventing risk, not only reacting to expressed threats.

Risk Assessment Process

Process:

When a report of a concerning behavior or communication is received, the administrator will determines whether a risk assessment is needed:

IF YOU ANSWERED YES, the following will occur:

The school's BTA team will follow a systematic methodology to collect the facts and investigate the circumstances.
The team will conduct interviews as needed with, for example student being assessed, the potential target(s), and any witnesses.
Additional background information and student history is also reviewed.

The threat assessment team determined the level of risk and implementation plan to manage the risk, based on the information gathered through this process.

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