White Lake Resident Helps Increase Student Safety With New Position in Howell

Article by Thomas Gould, director of public relations at Howell Public Schools.

In an ongoing effort to provide a safe learning environment for its students, the Howell Public Schools has named Patrick Sidge as the district’s Safe Schools Coordinator. Sidge is a retired police sergeant who has more than 30 years experience in the law enforcement field. For half of those years, Sidge served as the Farmington Hills Police School Liaison to the Farmington School District. “One thing I learned while working in the Farmington Schools is that when kids feel safe they can learn, when they don’t feel safe they can’t,” said Sidge.

“I am proud of the board’s decision to hire a Safe Schools Coordinator in their quest to promote student safety. I believe this demonstrates the districts commitment to student safety," said Ron Wilson, Howell Schools Superintendent.

As the Safe Schools Coordinator, Sidge will be dedicated to the overall safety and security needs of district. Some of his responsibilities will include: performing an on-site vulnerability assessment of each of the district’s buildings, coordinating crisis response drills with administrators and updating the district’s crisis response plan. As the Farmington Hills Police School Liaison, Sidge played an integral role in helping develop the Farmington School District’s Crisis Response Plan. According to Sidge, “a crisis response plan is really a living document that is constantly evolving.”

Additionally Sidge will work with district staff members to build trusting relationships with the student body, so they will feel comfortable coming to him or other staff when they are aware of a potential threat. In his experience, contraband items are often found based on student tips.

A resident of White Lake, Sidge has strong ties to the Howell Schools community. All five of his children attended Howell Schools and his wife is a teacher within the district.