If you or a family member are experiencing a mental health crisis or need someone to talk to immediately, please access one of the following resources available to the students and families of Lapeer Community Schools:

• 24-Hour Emergency Hotline (877) 800-1650 New Oakland Family Center

• Text Line - Text “HOME” to 741741 or visit CrisisChat.org 

• OK2SAY - Click https://www.michigan.gov/ok2say to submit a tip

• Suicide Prevention Chat - https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/ 

• Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Call or Text 988

• Thumb Cares - www.thumbcares.org

• Michigan 2-1-1 (A one-stop connection to thousands of local agencies and resources 24 hours, 7 days a week.) Call 211 or text your ZIP code to 898211

August 17, 2026

Dear Parents and Guardians,

In a unified effort to better protect our students Lapeer County school superintendents, school administrators, and our local law enforcement partners have collaborated closely to adopt a single, shared protocol to respond to emergencies. This proven safety framework, selected by the Michigan State Police for use for all schools, will simplify our school emergency responses into five clear, action-based commands.

By using identical language across all schools and emergency agencies, the "I Love U Guys" Standard Response Protocol (SRP) is a data-driven safety program used by thousands of schools nationwide which ensures clear communication and swift, coordinated action during any critical incident.  The SRP replaces a mix of sometimes confusing terms and codes with five specific, action-oriented directives: 

            Hold: Students stay in their classrooms and clear the hallways.

            Secure: All individuals brought indoors, all exterior doors remain locked to secure the building perimeter.

            Lockdown: Students and staff move out of sight and lock classroom doors.

            Evacuate: Everyone moves to a designated safe location outside the building.

            Shelter: Staff and students take specific protective actions against hazards like severe weather.

While simplifying communication and response, the SRP allows for flexibility and we will retain specific procedures unique to Lapeer Community Schools including our response to an active threat, provided by our existing ALICE protocol. Our staff and students are familiar and comfortable with these procedures. 

We are introducing the SRP to our staff at the start of the school year and then to our students through discussions and age-appropriate drills. County schools also plan to conduct a tabletop exercise, in cooperation with county emergency management, law enforcement and other first responders, later this year.

We encourage you to talk with your child about these terms to help them feel safe and prepared. We have included an informational document with this letter which shares more information about the SRP.

Our shared goal remains maintain a secure, predictable learning environment where students can focus on growth and achievement.  Thank you for your continued partnership in keeping our school community safe.

Sincerely,

Matthew T. Wandrie
LCS Superintendent