Traverse City Area Public Schools is highlighting its campus security measures and emergency procedures this Safe Schools Week, aiming to inform the community about continued safety enhancements and student support resources. The district’s safety infrastructure operates through a centralized approach, overseen by Patrick McManus, head of safety and security for TCAPS.
A cornerstone of these measures includes a partnership with the Traverse City Police Department, which places dedicated law enforcement officers inside district schools. Beyond personnel, the district utilizes technological tools, such as monitoring systems designed to flag inappropriate online searches and the OK2SAY anonymous reporting helpline.
At Traverse City Central High School, these efforts are particularly evident. The school employs four full-time security guards, each assigned to specific building regions to build relationships with students and monitor for signs of stress or anxiety. Ben Berger, the principal of Traverse City Central High School, noted that the district’s safety campaign serves to inform the community about all the improvements and sophistication and time that goes into ensuring all of our kids come to school and leave school safe every single day.
Traverse City Central also relies on Officer Justin Nowland, a police officer with the Traverse City Police Department who serves as the school resource officer (SRO) at the high school. Berger described the dedicated stationing of an officer at the school as a major improvement over previous reliance on non-emergency police calls, calling the presence of an SRO a “game changer” for day-to-day communication.
Administrators are also educating students on the critical distinction between informing adults about safety concerns and merely snitching. Berger explained that reporting is essential for keeping students and the community safe, helping teenagers learn how to identify potential issues and protect themselves and others.
Officer Nowland plays a crucial role in bridging communication between law enforcement and school administrators. He assists in evaluating reports and investigating potential crimes, helping to discern between a joke and a serious threat. Nowland emphasized that threats or concerning comments are taken seriously regardless of intent, stating that joking about such matters does not matter in today’s day and age. He stressed that students cannot make jokes about things that could be perceived as threats, especially within a school setting or in reference to one.
Beyond his law enforcement duties, Officer Nowland teaches crime and justice classes and interacts with students during lunch, fostering positive relationships. His goal, as he explained, is to teach students how the law works rather than to jam up every kid for every little thing that I find. He reinforced that safety awareness remains a constant priority, serving as a reminder and a refresher for all of us to remember how important that safety is.