KICKING OFF 2025

 Dear Royal Oak Schools Families,

Happy New Year 2025!

January is Board of Education Appreciation Month, so I’d like to thank those elected to serve and guide Royal Oak Schools. In December, we thanked Lisa-Aline Hanes for her service to our community as an outgoing Board of Education trustee who started on the Board in 2021. At the January 9, 2025, regular meeting, we will swear in returning members Tim Ciechorski, Erika Alexander, Maryanne VanHaitsma, and new board member Matt Wickey. January is officially Board of Education Appreciation Month, and I would like to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for the work they do on behalf of our students, educators, and community. Their commitment to improving educational opportunities and ensuring every student has the resources they need to succeed does not go unnoticed. Thank you for your thoughtful decisions and focus on creating an environment where all students can flourish.

We will wrap up the first semester at the end of this month, and plans are in place to prepare for the 2025-26 school year. One item that is reviewed and updated all year long is our safety plans.

Regularly scheduled meetings to address school protocols, safety plans, and training provide timely updates and discussions to ensure we are on track with our plans, policies, and protocols. Our administrative team meets each month to review recent events, new needs, and professional development training for physical and emotional safety. We often discuss feedback from our drills and any new legislation or public school policies that must be addressed. Our team tracks equipment and supply needs and shares best practices when handling any recent issues.

The district’s Safety Advisory Committee is a new committee, meeting four times this year. Select members of our leadership team, ROPD, security consultants, and teacher leaders review the district’s work and bring new ideas to the table to enhance the safety of our schools. These critical connections and conversations allow the advisory board to ask questions and provide feedback to our leadership team. At the June 12, 2025, Regular Board of Education Meeting, I will present an overview of the safety advisory committee’s work and share key elements that will be in place for the 2025-26 school year.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to your school principal or me, and be sure to read their updates and ours in the newsletters.

- Mary Beth Fitzpatrick, Superintendent Royal Oak Schools