Starting next school year, all Michigan schools will be required to implement the same emergency response protocols, eliminating the current confusion caused by varying systems across districts.

Watch Jolie Sherman's and Brittany Toolis' video report: Michigan schools to adopt standardized emergency response protocols Michigan schools to adopt standardized emergency response protocols

Some schools, like the Novi Community School District, are already ahead of the curve.

The standardized response terminology aims to create consistency in how schools respond to emergencies, ensuring everyone from students and staff to parents and first responders understands exactly what actions to take.

"A lot of schools have developed their own language. They may have made code words. Their staff might be well trained on what that terminology was, but the community, law enforcement, anybody on the outside may have not had a clear idea of what that school was doing," said Dennis Huisman, Supervisor of Safety & Security for Novi Community School District.

Huisman, who was a police officer and school resource officer for 16 years, points out that terms like "shelter in place" currently have different meanings across school districts, creating potential confusion during emergencies.

"In some places, that might mean an active threat on the outside of the building or neighborhood. That might mean an active shooter in an area somewhere. So that terminology gets changed a lot, and shelter in place can also be used for tornado or gas leak," Huisman said.

The new standardized system uses five clear response terms: hold, secure, lockdown, evacuate, and shelter. Posters displaying these terms and their meanings are already being displayed throughout Novi schools.

Srp-k12 2025 Poster Msp-oss En by WXYZ-TV Channel 7 Detroit

The Michigan Department of State Police and the School Safety and Mental Health Commission are responsible for publishing these safety rules by July 1, 2026, with schools required to adopt them by the 2026-27 school year.

"I believe the intent of the legislature was no matter where you go to school or where you teach, there will be standard terminology," said Kim Root, Manager of the Office of School Safety for Michigan State Police.

Novi's Village Oaks Elementary School Principal Katy Dingelmann said staff will begin the year by teaching students the different safety procedures.

"We have updated all of our manuals and emergency operating procedures in our classroom go bags," Dingelmann said.

Teachers in the district appreciate the proactive approach to safety.

"I'm a mom of the district and also an educator, and it makes me very comfortable to know that everybody is on the same page," said Erin Laporte, a 4th-grade teacher at Village Oaks.

Parents like Jessica Orlowski, whose children attend Novi schools, also feel reassured by the standardized protocols.

"You know, my main priority is the safety of my children," Orlowski said. "To know those practices are going into place makes me feel a lot more safe."

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

A Vietnam veteran from Lincoln Park has received an overwhelming response after his family asked the community to send him birthday cards for his 80th birthday.

Watch Jolie Sherman's video report: Vietnam veteran receives hundreds of cards for 80th birthday

Robert Carson, who turned 80 today, has received around 500 cards from people across Michigan and beyond. The Lincoln Park mayor also honored him by declaring August 25, 2025, as Robert Carson Day.

"Oh man, we got a ton of them," Carson said.

His ex-wife and caregiver, Paulette DeBaldo-Carson, initiated the birthday card campaign on Facebook earlier this month.

PREVIOUS STORY: Vietnam veteran's family wishes for cards from the community for his 80th birthday Vietnam veteran's family wants cards from the community for his 80th birthday

"I expected 80 cards. That's what I expected," DeBaldo-Carson said.

The response far exceeded expectations, with cards arriving from all over Michigan and from as far away as Florida. Many cards came from veterans, family members of veterans, and those who've lost loved ones who served.

Lincoln Park Mayor Maureen Tobin presented Carson with a proclamation declaring his birthday as Robert Carson Day in the city.

"Honoring him and his service and what he's done for this country means a lot to me, and I'm just very happy to come out and do this for him," Tobin said.

The birthday celebration has also connected Carson with important resources. Rose Walsh, who runs the non-profit Downriver for Veterans in Wyandotte, visited Carson to inform him about benefits available to veterans.

"We help veterans get their benefits, which is what we're going to be doing with this gentleman back here," Walsh said. "Veterans don't seem to understand that if you have boots on the ground, which means you were in a war zone, there's benefits out there for you."

The Lincoln Park Police Department also participated in the celebration, driving by Carson's home with lights and sirens before delivering a card and gifts.

The birthday cards continue to arrive daily, bringing birthday wishes and long-overdue thanks for his service.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

Students and teachers will soon be setting alarm clocks for the new school year, but health advocates argue that school bells ring too early for teenagers' biological needs.

Watch Jolie's report in the video player below New push for later school start times to address teen sleep deprivation

According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, students ages 13 to 18 need between 8 and 10 hours of sleep every night to function properly. Without adequate rest, teens can experience attention, behavior and learning problems.

Advocates say the solution isn't as simple as going to bed earlier, as teens are biologically wired to fall asleep later than adults and younger children.

"It's really a health crisis that our kids are in," said Katherine Nitz, a chapter leader for Start School Later, a global movement advocating for healthier school schedules.

The organization recommends middle schools start no earlier than 8 a.m. and high schools begin at 8:30 a.m. or later.

In 2018, Nitz started a Start School Later chapter in Rochester Hills to address what she describes as chronic sleep deprivation in teens.

"Kids really need that 5 a.m. - 7 a.m. sleep, that REM sleep. That's when your brain goes through emotional regulation and memory consolidation. So kids are constantly fighting against their biology," Nitz said.

Students feel the impact of early start times on their daily lives and academic performance.

"I hate it. I just hate waking up that early," said Emily Nitz from Rochester Hills.

"It's definitely tough to be ready and focused at 7:30 a.m.," said incoming senior Spencer Scherr. "It's just difficult to feel tired all the time and to know that you can perform better academically."

Scherr took action by speaking with his school leaders about the issue, helping to change the start time at Seaholm High School in Birmingham from 7:30 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. this year.

"Obviously, we as an organization with Start School Later, we definitely wanted to push back further, but that was all we were able to get this year," Scherr said.

The Troy Public School District is also examining the possibility of later start times.

"This has been a conversation that the board has had at times during the last number of years," said Dan Trudel, Troy's assistant superintendent.

Trudel explained that implementing later start times involves numerous considerations, including impacts on sports and extracurricular programming, students with jobs, and the district's bus routes.

"I think the easiest way is to say let's hire 20 more drivers and then we can accommodate," Trudel said.

While adding more drivers would be the least disruptive solution, it comes with significant costs.

"When you look at an upwards of $70,000 annually for a route, and if I had to add 20 to 25 routes, you're well over a million dollars just from that," Trudel said.

The district has hired an outside vendor to assess their transportation system and plans to present 4 - 5 options to the Board of Education in the fall.

Despite the challenges, advocates remain convinced of the benefits.

"Any district can do this, and it will be in the best interest of every single student," Nitz said.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.