By Crystal Hayduk
Effective with the 2024-25 school year, Chelsea School District (CSD) has a new director of safety and security.
Douglas Whitsel was approved for the position in consent action at the school board meeting on Aug. 19.
According to the memorandum recommending the board approve the hire, Whitsel was offered the position following an intense selection process that began with an initial pool of 74 candidates. After a screening of 35 candidates, five individuals underwent a panel interview. The final two candidates participated in a facility assessment and third panel interview. Both candidates went on to a fourth interview with Superintendent Mike Kapolka, Assistant Superintendent Marcus Kaemming, Chelsea High School Assistant Principal Andrea Franco, Chelsea Police Department Chief Kevin Kazyak, retired City of Ann Arbor Police Chief John Seto, and four students.
Whitsel has endorsements in leadership and criminal justice from the United States Air Force Security Forces Academy, Noncommissioned Officer Academy, Security Forces, Tactical Response Force, and the Airman Leadership School. He has completed courses at the Community College of the Air Force, and is close to finishing a degree in criminal justice.
With the results from the district’s community surveys last year, and as part of the ongoing strategic plan to improve the safety and security of students and staff, the district created the new position of director of safety and security last spring.
“This role was established to provide focused leadership in connecting the social and emotional well-being of our students with their physical safety, recognizing that these elements are deeply interconnected,” said Kapolka. “By prioritizing this position, we aim to create a secure and supportive learning environment where every student can thrive both emotionally and physically, aligning with our commitment to the holistic well-being of our school community.”
Kapolka said the position is an “… administrative role to ensure it has the authority and reach necessary to effectively oversee and implement safety and security protocols across the district. As an administrative leader, the director of safety and security will be actively engaged with students and staff on a daily basis, fostering relationships and building trust within our school community. This daily interaction is essential for understanding the unique needs and concerns of our students and staff, allowing the director to address issues proactively.
“Additionally, the role requires a consistent presence at community and school events to maintain open lines of communication with the public, ensuring that our safety practices are transparent and responsive to the community’s needs. By making this an administrative position, we are committing to a comprehensive approach to safety that integrates both physical security measures and the social and emotional well-being of our students and staff.”
Kapolka said the director of safety and security is a pilot position for two years. The first year is fully funded through the state’s 31aa grant which exists to improve student mental health and school safety and security. It is expected the cost of the second year will be covered by a combination of grant funds and the district’s general funding.
