Sharyland ISD held its second edition Safe and secure town hall At the August 10 meeting, a panel of experts updated parents and communities on district-wide strategies for the 2022-2023 school year. And while SISD has taken more security measures than before, parents I spoke to at City Hall felt that it wasn’t enough.
Superintendent of Education Dr. Maria Vidaurri said Sharyland uses a concentric protective philosophy when it comes to campus safety. She means she’s focused on the tactics of securing boundaries and moving inward toward the classroom.
district last month updated and approved MLG Protection Services on-site mission police officers and security guard contracts. Head of facilities, maintenance and risk management, Mark Dougherty, assured parents that every campus has armed personnel.
However, at the town hall meeting, a panel of experts expanded on other new or improved protocols implemented during the current school year.
Some new safety measures include locked doors, access control locks, additional cameras, radios with direct access to law enforcement, and an extensive screening process for campus visitors. includes counseling services, annual training for administrators, staff and students, and a threat assessment team.
The school district conducted door audits over the summer to make sure everything was working properly. However, all campus doors remain manually locked during school hours until authorities install electronic access control locks.
“We worked with the campus to ensure a single entry point once classes started,” says Vidaurri. “We know it in the morning [and] After school, there will be multiple pick-up points, but once school begins, each campus will identify a single entry point and provide that information to parents and students. ”
Juan Heredia, executive director of student support services, said the visitor management system requires acceptable documentation for visitors to enter the campus. He warned that there may be delays in access to the campus, but that is to maintain the integrity of security. have undergone a background check before setting foot on campus.
Additionally, Sharyland ISD no longer allows deliveries during school hours due to increased security.
“Every time we open the door, we are losing layers of protection,” said Pam Montalvo, Vice Superintendent of Student and Support Services. “We don’t allow deliveries — forgotten homework and stuff like that. Lunch, every time someone comes to campus, we weaken the protective layer and therefore we don’t allow deliveries. Thank you for your support, and for us staff as well, so I know it’s a sacrifice, but it’s worth it.”
The district also pays special attention to social-emotional learning and incorporates SEL practices into its academic curriculum. The idea is that prioritizing mental health and character development helps students as a whole and flags behaviors that educators monitor.
Parents and local residents voiced their concerns at city hall, while others mentioned the shooting in Uvalde CISD in May. And even as new security and safety protocols were introduced, parents had more to offer.
One parent spoke about deploying AR-15 rifles on campus in an emergency. Another researcher suggested encouraging teachers to carry firearms. My father asked about bulletproof doors. Another parent said he wanted more trained police officers than armed guards, he brought up the implementation of his Sharyland ISD Police Department, which his community members had previously proposed. SISD trustees said increasing the number of police officers and establishing in-house police stations were both financial and human resource issues.
“Establishing your own police department…you are talking about a budget that we are investing heavily in,” said School Board President Hector Rivera. comes at a cost…and we’ve been cutting taxes for the past three years, but sometimes what we need is work with what we have. I was able [the budget] It’s a little bit, but you can’t sacrifice things like salers and other important items. ”
Vidauri said the district will take into account all suggestions and concerns. She and other panelists said the district’s security conversation is fluid and evolving as needed. never reach the building.
Director of Counseling Lauren Bazan said security is a priority, but the school district doesn’t want any additions that frighten children. emphasized its importance.
“I’m a parent too… I’ve heard certain things like bulletproof doors and it’s scary,” she said.It’s a balance. We love our children and want to have a great culture, but we also want them to be safe.
