February 13, 2023
Dear Saline Middle School Families:
SALINE AREA SCHOOLS
ㅡ check your student’s phone for this app. We are asking that it be
Michelle Szczechowicz, Ed.S.
Principal
Saline Middle School
Saline, MI 48176
734.401.4601
szczechm@salineschools.org
LINDSAY GUENTHER
Assistant Principal
Saline Middle School
Saline, Michigan 48176
734.401.4603
guenthel@salineschools.org
I am writing to make you aware of an application that several
students have downloaded to their phones. This app, is called “Gun
Simulator- Shake to Shoot”. This simulator make realistic gun
sounds. It has been used for gun play at school, as well as making
gun sounds in our hallway that could easily incite panic. Please
deleted. Use of this app, or any like it, while at school, on the bus, or
at any school event will result in the student facing severe
consequences.
Use of this app at school may be considered a threat, and the student
may face a threat assessment or possible expulsion. Additionally,
utilizing this app in our school may incite panic with staff and
students. Make no mistake, we take gun threats very seriously at
Saline Middle School and are unapologetic in our commitment to
maintaining a safe school environment.
Please reference the email sent in Dr. Laatsch’s Community Message
on February 10.
SAS Community,
Due to student actions, several school districts in Washtenaw County have
had to place individual buildings on lockdown over the course of this school
year. Although Saline Area Schools (SAS) has yet to take this safety
precaution this year, please take time to talk to your students about the
seriousness of making threats against an individual student, a group of
students, or a building. Please help your student explore ways of resolving
conflict that are peaceful and productive. Our school handbooks and Board
Policies detail very clear student expectations regarding threats. Gross
misconduct by students involving threats will be addressed with discipline up
to and including permanent expulsion from Saline Area Schools. While there
are many factors considered when discipling a student, disciplinary actions
are usually more severe when the threat includes the use of a weapon. The
administration and Board of Education take all threats very seriously.
Consequences will be issued by administrators and the Board when
students make threats. Board Policy 5772 specifically addresses weapons
in school and the severe actions that can occur for any threats or possession
of weapons in school. Further, there are many other policies that address
school safety and the dire consequences that can occur when our schools,
students and staff are subject to false threats. These consequences often
require suspension and/or expulsion.

Please clarify to your students that all threats are taken seriously. Every act,
no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, has consequences. In
today’s world, there is never a time that a threat against an individual
student, a group of students, or a building is a joke.

Please also share with your student the importance of reporting

concerns/notifying a trusted adult if a classmate is showing any alarming
signs or makes disturbing comments. We have actually already witnessed a
number of instances where students, parents and community members have
reported concerns that they have seen (primarily through social media) to a
trusted adult. In addition to reporting to a trusted adult, students can also use
OK2SAY, a confidential digital platform.

The law enforcement community also takes these threats seriously, and the
Attorney General and prosecuting attorneys are holding offenders
accountable. If you are ever in doubt of who to contact about a threat,
especially when school is not in session, call 911 to report your concern.

School violence is a community problem, and it is going to take a community

effort to solve.

Thank You,

Stephen D. Laatsch, PhD.

Superintendent, Saline Area Schools

laatschs@salineschools.org

(734) 401-4001

Thank you for your continued partnership,

Michelle Szczechowicz, Ed.S.

Principal, Saline Middle School