KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Kalamazoo Public Schools’ Board of Trustees has approved resolutions allowing the district to apply for state school safety grant funding for the 2025-26 and 2026-27 fiscal years.
But, the funding comes with controversial conditions.
Trustees met Monday for a special meeting to consider whether to accept or reject privilege waivers tied to Michigan’s School Safety and Mental Health Funding.
The funding can be used for mental health staff, school resource officers, security equipment and other measures aimed at improving student safety.
However, to receive funding, districts must agree to certain conditions if a mass casualty event occurs.
Specifically, districts are required to waive privileges that could otherwise keep certain information from being disclosed as part of a state investigation, such as attorney-client privileges.
Districts will also have to comply with a comprehensive state investigation if a mass casualty event occurs.
Over the last year, the privilege-waiver requirement has been challenged by districts and school officials – who argued the conditions were unconstitutional.
The case has traveled through Michigan’s Court of Claims and Court of Appeals, both of which denied the motion.
Michigan Supreme Court Justices then ruled June 18 that the state’s school safety and mental health funding would stand as “we are not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this court.”
Michigan Supreme Court on School Safety Funding ChallengePDF preview
This document contains a ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court on conditions stemming from school safety and mental health funding. (Michigan Supreme Court/WWMT)
“Today’s decision protects critical investments in school safety and student mental health while providing much-needed clarity for schools and communities across Michigan,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said June 18. “Last year, we made the largest investment in our state’s history to help schools keep kids safe… It also increased transparency to give parents greater certainty. Today’s decision is an important step forward.”
Following Monday’s hearing, it remains unclear when Kalamazoo Public Schools is expected to apply for or receive school safety and mental health funding.
Trustees are scheduled to reconvene for a regularly scheduled board meeting Thursday at 7 p.m.
