LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Ruth Johnson on Thursday secured $9.8 million for mental health services and school safety measures at Oxford High School as part of a supplemental budget bill to address school safety across the state.
“Oxford High School experienced a horrific act of violence and loss last November. No amount of funding will bring back those who were lost, but we must give the school the resources they need to best serve their students, teachers and staff who were deeply affected by this tragedy,” said Johnson, R-Holly. “This bill includes nearly $10 million for Oxford schools to support a school psychologist, family liaison, and a mental health coordinator and to help implement additional safety measures.”
House Bill 6012 includes $9.8 million for the Oxford Community School District to be used for psychologists, family liaisons, mental health staff, school security, additional learning time, legal fees, and the physical restoration of the school building.
In the wake of this week’s school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the Michigan Senate adopted a substitute Thursday that added $27.5 million to support additional safety efforts at public and private schools across the state.
The bill included $15 million in School Security Assessment Grants to be used by Michigan schools for the completion of comprehensive safety and security assessments and $12.5 million in School Security Building Mapping Grants for the implementation of critical incidence mapping that best assists first responders in an emergency.
“As a community in Texas mourns this week — and as the families of Oxford continue to deal with the scars of last November — this bill is a concrete step we can take to help provide needed support services to Oxford’s students and teachers and to provide new resources to schools across our state to help them improve their security and keep their school communities safe,” Johnson said.
HB 6012 now heads to the House of Representatives for concurrence. If the House concurs in the bill, it would then be sent to the governor to be signed.
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Editor’s note: Sen. Johnson’s Senate session remarks on the funding will be available at www.SenatorRuthJohnson.com/video.
The above photograph is available by clicking on the image or by visiting www.SenatorRuthJohnson.com/photos.
Photo caption: Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, addresses the Senate on the need to invest $9.8 million for mental health services and school safety measures at Oxford High School as part of a supplemental budget bill to address school safety across the state.