Oxford Schools Officials Decline AG Nessel's Independent Review Offer

OXFORD, MI — Oxford school officials vehemently denied an independent review offer into the Nov. 30 tragedy from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel's office Tuesday night during a school board meeting, arguing any independent investigation should wait until all criminal and civil litigation is over.

Oxford school board president Tom Donnelly said Oakland County officials and prosecutors are still withholding information about the deadly shooting from district officials because of the ongoing investigations into the shooting.

Authorities said a 15-year-old student opened fire in Oxford High School on Nov. 30, killing four students and wounding seven other people. The student's parents were also each charged in connection to the deadly attack.

"Once the litigation process is completed and all information has risen to the surface, a team of experts will conduct a third-party review," Donnelly said. "It would be ill advised for us to start a third-party investigation if we don't know the facts."

Although district officials said they will request a third-party investigation looking into the events leading up to the deadly shooting, they never defined a plan or exactly who they would hire to review the events. In addition, district officials said there could be several reviews, as opposed to just one.

District officials have held preliminary discussions with four private firms: New York-based Guidepost Solutions, Safe Havens International in Georgia, Baltimore-based Jensen Hughes and ATAP Security in California, according to meeting minutes.

Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel said her office's independent review of the events leading up to the deadly shooting would not interfere with any criminal investigations in connection to the deadly shooting, as well as saying her office would bear all costs. Nessel first made the offered in December and then again in April.

Oxford School officials' decision to reject Nessel's offer left some parents confused at Tuesday's meeting.

"Why are we paying someone when the attorney general does this," one parent said.

"We need protection from your poor judgment. You should all resign immediately," another parent said.

Although district officials said they could still discuss Nessel's offer in the future, Nessel said her office has a May 20 deadline. Still Nessel said she's disappointed in the district's district decision.

"The school board’s unwillingness to partner with my department on this effort flies in the face of transparency," Nessel said. "The rejection sends a message that the board is more focused on limiting liability than responding to the loud outcry from the Oxford community to deliver greater peace of mind to the students, parents and educators that lived through this traumatic event."