EDUCATION BRIEFS
News from Hays & San Marcos CISDs
COMPILED BY AMIRA VAN LEEUWEN
QUOTE OF NOTE
School marshal program makes headway at SMCISD SAN MARCOS CISD The board of trustees took another step toward implementing a school marshal WHAT IS A SCHOOL MARSHAL?
HIGHLIGHTS HAYS CISD The school district welcomed new administrative staff members June 26, including Patricia Fuentes, Lehman High School academic dean; Adriana Longoria and Stephen Foster, Lehman High School assistant principals; and Simon Middle School Principal Salvador Vega. SAN MARCOS CISD A $251,937.98 contract was approved June 19 with the company TF Harper to install Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant playground equipment on all SMCISD elementary school campuses. Hays CISD will meet July 24 at 5:30 p.m. at the Historic Buda Elementary Campus, 300 San Marcos St., Buda. 512-268-2141 • www.hayscisd.net San Marcos CISD MEETINGS WE COVER will meet Aug. 7 and 21 at San Marcos High School, 2601 Rattler Road, San Marcos. 512-393-6700 • www.smcisd.net “I WOULD REALLY LIKE US TO BE AS FOCUSED AS POSSIBLE IN THE ASSIGNMENT OF DUTIES TO THE MARSHALS. I REALLY EXPECT THAT THOSE PEOPLE, 99% OF THEIR TIME, WILL BE SPENT ON THE CAMPUS THAT THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO.” ANNE HALSEY, SMCISD TRUSTEE DISCUSSING THE DISTRICT’S SCHOOL MARSHAL PROGRAM
must be employed and appointed by a district, pass a psychological exam and a written state exam, complete the TCOLE’s training program, have a current handgun license, and more. The details: Some of the regulations governing SMCISD school marshals outlined in the board documents include they can make arrests and exercise all authority given to peace officers but only to the extent necessary to prevent or abate actions that threaten serious bodily injury or death of students, faculty or visitors on school premises. What trustees are saying: Salmi said she was “very opposed” to having marshals at sporting events. Board President Anne Halsey said she was in favor of the language as written but agreed with Salmi regarding the marshals’ campus assignment.
In San Marcos CISD and neighboring districts, school resource officers are typically uniformed city police department or county sheriff’s deputies who maintain a contract with the school district to remain stationed on campus. School marshals serve a different purpose as they: Are employed directly by the school district Do not wear a uniform Carry a concealed handgun Must pass a psychological exam and state written test Use a holster that provides 1 2 3 4 5
program after it approved the Texas Association of School Boards marshal policy language in a 6-1 vote June 19. Trustee Mari Salmi was the single dissenting vote. How we got here: The board initially moved to implement a school marshal program in April. House Bill 1009, passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature in 2013, allows public school districts to appoint school marshals to “prevent the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises.” School marshals’ identities are confidential, and they carry con- cealed handguns. To be certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement and eligible for appoint- ment as a school marshal, applicants
“adequate” retention Only carry frangible ammunition
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SOURCES: TEXAS COMMISSION ON LAW ENFORCEMENT, SAN MARCOS CISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Hays CISD approves contract for athletic facility improvements
ATHLETIC UPGRADES Work on Hays CISD athletic facilities approved June 20, include: • Synthetic turf for baseball and softball fields • Shade structures • Field lighting • Press boxes • And more The improvements were approved as part of the
Other athletic improve- ments include lighting improvements for Hays High School, Barton Mid- dle School tennis courts and a stadium. According to the board, other improvements may be necessary to render the finished Barton Middle facilities to be “equivalent” to that of the high schools. The cost: The funding comes from Proposition B in the May bond and costs about $15.15 million.
HAYS CISD An engi- neering contract with CEI Solutions for Land and Life was approved June 20 for various athletic improve- ment projects. Improvements include new synthetic turf for baseball fields, softball fields and bullpens; the replacement of batting cage synthetic turf;
additional shade struc- tures over batting cages; field lighting; and more. Lehman High School will receive additional improvements, including new restroom and con- cession facilities, baseball and softball grandstands and press boxes, a new dual-tunnel softball batting cage, and more.
SOURCE: HAYS CISD/ COMMUNITY IMPACT 2023 bond totaling $15.15 MILLION
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