1KRESA West Campus.jpg

Kalamazoo RESA's West Campus was placed on lockdown Thursday morning while a man with a gun visited. Among other things, the facility on Croyden Avenue houses early childhood programs, special education transition services and programs for students with hearing and visual impairments.

(Al Jones | MLive/Gazette)

KALAMAZOO, MI - A man has been bringing a gun to a once-a-week program at a school on Kalamazoo's West Side.

As a result, the Croyden Avenue facility of Kalamazoo RESA was placed on lockdown during each of the last two Thursday mornings while that man visited.

He is the father of a program participant.

Police were called to Kalamazoo RESA's West Campus at 4606 Croyden Ave., doors were locked, mobility was limited and other precautions were taken "to ensure the safety of all children, families and staff," Margaret McGlinchey, assistant superintendent of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, stated in a letter Thursday to the parents of students.

The Kalamazoo RESA West Campus was known for many years as the Croyden Avenue School and was well recognized for the countywide programs its provided for mentally and physically disabled students.

In 2011, some of those programs were relocated but the West Campus continues to house: early childhood programs; a pre-primary school evaluation program to assets developmental issues in youngsters; a special education transition services program; a program to teach life skills to young adults with mental and physical disabilities; and programs for students with hearing and visual impairments.

Dave Campbell, superintendent of the Kalamazoo Regional Educational Service Agency, said the man with a gun is a Kalamazoo resident who has visited three of the 45-minute weekly music sessions taken by his young daughter.

The man, whose name he did not disclose, visited the school's Marvelous Music program on Feb. 18, March 10 and March 17, Campbell said. The school was put on lockdown on the 10th and 17th as KRESA enacted security protocols developed about two years ago by area law enforcement and the school districts.

"There's a full continuum of emotion," Campbell said, explaining the reaction of parents and staff members to having a man with a gun in the school. "It ranges from none, all the way to (people asking), 'Why are you allowing this?'"

But Campbell said the law allows a person with a valid Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to openly carry that weapon in a school. The man carried a handgun in a holster on his side.

Campbell plans to meet with any concerned parents at 7 p.m. on Monday to explain the lockdowns and what appears to an ongoing situation as the music enrichment program continues through the school year.

The Marvelous Music program, which has been offered by KRESA and other schools for many years, is not focused on kids with disabilities. It is open to any area student and encourages parents to learn songs with their youngsters and participate in their preschool development.

The class averages five youngsters, Campbell said, with high participation of eight pupils and low participation of two pupils on any given week.

Campbell said Kalamazoo County Prosecutor Jeff Getting is expected to attend the meeting for parents on Monday to answer questions about gun laws.

Parents of the West Campus' various programs -- all of those who experienced the lockdowns and who may continue experience lockdowns -- were invited in the letter. They include the families of preschoolers involved in four Head Start programs.

Asked if the man is trying to push the envelope of what is allowable, Campbell said, "No. He knows what's allowable and he knows we know what's allowable. The law says that if you have a CPL license, you are allowed to open carry. It's open to the public."

He said the man has been polite and not aggressive and they have had a couple of good conversations.

"I have asked him if he would leave the weapon in his truck," Campbell said, "and he said he was going to 'stick to his guns.' That's what he said."

In the letter that was sent to parents Thursday via conventional mail, Assistant Superintendent McGlinchey stated: "We want to inform you that we have a fairly unique situation that has developed in the last couple of weeks at West Campus. There is a father of a student who has exercised his right to openly carry a gun per his concealed weapons permit. He has done this on two occasions in the past few weeks and again on Thursday. According to Michigan law, a person with a concealed weapons permit may open carry a gun. The police have verified his concealed weapons permit."

Donald Webster, deputy chief of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, affirmed that assessment and said it appears the individual involved has a valid Concealed Pistol License.

According to the KRESA letter, the precautionary measures the school has taken included:

-A police officer and an administrator escorting the father for the duration of his visit;

-A heightened level of security that included locking all classroom doors during the visit and restricting movement throughout the visit (Campbell said that some students who may be frightened by the sight of a gun, have been brought into the building through an alternative entrance);

-Securing all entrances of the building with a staff person to check all visitors in and out of the building. That has been adopted as a standard practice;

-Sending a message to families informing them about the lockdowns due to an open carry incident in the building.

The parents meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday in a large conference room area in the back of the upper level of the facility. Campbell invited parents with questions to contact him at 269-250-9658.

MLive writer Al Jones may be contacted at ajones5@mlive.com. Follow me on Twitter at ajones5_al.