In an innovative move to enhance school safety, Kent Intermediate School District (Kent ISD) in Michigan has pioneered the creation of a dedicated Intelligence Analyst (IA) position to support behavioral threat assessment and management (BTAM) teams across their district. This groundbreaking initiative, possibly the first of its kind in the United States, offers valuable insights for other ISDs and school districts considering similar programs.

The early results are promising. Since the start of the program in July 2024, Kent ISD's Intelligence Analyst has produced 84 Social Media Access Reports (SMARs) for local schools conducting behavioral threat assessments. A district conducting a threat assessment fills out the SMAR form with biographical information on the subject of the assessment, including the person's name, school picture, and any known social media accounts the subject may have. Upon receiving this information, the IA begins a search of open-source social media accounts that may belong to the subject. The IA reviews 16 social media platforms, including Facebook, Snapchat, and other sites to determine if the assessment subject has an account. If the IA finds concerning images or postings, they capture screenshots and include them in the SMAR. In the past six months, two SMARs identified students at immediate safety risk, enabling rapid intervention by the school district to help these students.

In addition to producing SMARs, the IA also creates situational awareness bulletins (SABs). These bulletins enable Kent ISD to share pertinent information about national and state trends affecting school safety, such as 'Swatting' threats, with local district safety personnel. Because the IA serves as a liaison officer with the State of Michigan's Intelligence Fusion Center, they have access to intelligence products related to school safety and security. Since January 2023, the IA has produced 14 SABs that have been distributed to West Michigan school districts.

The Role of an Intelligence Analyst

The IA position serves multiple critical functions in the school safety ecosystem:

• Reviews public source social media data in support of district threat assessments

• Coordinates with law enforcement and private entities to anticipate potential threats against schools

• Monitors social media for planned disruptions to school activities, such as student walk-outs or planned, activist interruptions to school board meetings

• Produces intelligence reports for school administrators and security staff

• Assists in early intervention for students showing concerning behaviors

• Provides guidance on addressing anonymous social media threats

Why Schools Need Intelligence Analysts

Recent events have highlighted the growing need for dedicated intelligence analysis in school districts. The rise of social media has created new challenges in identifying and assessing potential threats. Traditional law enforcement agencies often lack the capacity to address all potential threats that arise in school districts, creating an intelligence gap that dedicated school IAs fill.

Early intervention, enabled by skilled intelligence analysis, can help school officials direct mental health services to students in crisis before situations escalate to violence. This proactive approach aligns with research from the U.S. Secret Service and FBI showing that concerning social media posts often precede violent incidents.

Implementation Guidelines

Schools interested in establishing an IA position should consider these key elements:

• Organizational Structure: Position the IA within the ISD's safety and security department. This placement allows the IA to serve all districts within the ISD. Larger districts may consider hiring their own IA.

• Qualifications: Seek candidates with experience in intelligence analysis and an understanding of school environments.

• Coordination: Establish clear protocols for working with law enforcement, mental health professionals, and school administrators.

• Data Collection: Implement standardized evaluation procedures to assess the program's effectiveness.

• Privacy Considerations: Ensure analysis focuses only on publicly available information. Establish policies to ensure the IA only accesses open-source information and does not access private social media accounts.

Building a Sustainable Program

To create a sustainable IA program, districts should:

• Start with a pilot period to evaluate effectiveness

• Establish clear metrics for success

• Develop standardized reporting procedures

• Create protocols for coordination with law enforcement

• Build relationships with local mental health resources

• Maintain transparent communication with the community

The implementation of an Intelligence Analyst position represents a significant step forward in school safety strategy. By combining proactive threat assessment with early intervention capabilities, schools can better protect their communities while ensuring students in crisis receive needed support. As districts face evolving safety challenges, the IA role offers a promising model for enhancing school security infrastructure.

For more information, please email SeanBurns@KentISD.org.