EDUCATION
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
NEISD, NISD boost security e orts at schools BY EDMOND ORTIZ
DEFINING THE BILL Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3 on June 14. It takes e ect Sept. 1. The bill gives the state more oversight of districts’
District spokesperson Aubrey Chancellor said NEISD has more than 80 campuses and more than 70 police o cers. In a statement, NEISD Superintendent Sean Maika said candidates with a background in law enforcement, military service or security opera- tions will be recruited for this position. “Candidates who are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement are also encouraged to apply,” Maika said. “Ordinarily, we would hire licensed peace o cers for this role; however, there is a shortage of quali ed applicants for law enforcement o cers nationwide.” NISD Superintendent John Craft briefed trustees Aug. 8 about the plan to increase campus-level safety to meet HB 3 requirements. NISD o cials also said plans call for adding 20 police o cer positions; the district already has more than 100 o cers. Craft said NISD will continue to station two o cers at each high school and one o cer at each middle school. However, additional o cers will allow NISD to increase its rotation of patrolling o cers visiting each elementary school daily. “We’ll be more closely adhering to House Bill 3,” Craft said.
Two North San Antonio-area school districts will see an increased presence of security o cers at every school. O cials with North East ISD and Northside ISD said they are working to comply with require- ments contained in House Bill 3, which the Texas Legislature passed earlier this year. Designed to bolster school safety, HB 3 mandates at least one armed security o cer, school marshal or trained employee be posted during classroom instructional hours at every public school. NEISD will be receiving an estimated $1 million and NISD will be receiving nearly $3 million from the state to be put toward these e orts. The NEISD board on Aug. 7 approved a dis- trictwide safety plan that includes the creation of a new role—safety specialists at each school. Armed safety specialists will patrol and monitor school grounds and ensure doors are properly locked, campus security cameras are operational, and fencing and parking lots are secure, NEISD o cials said. Safety specialists will also lead safety drills and trainings, and assist campus sta during student arrival and dismissal, NEISD o cials said.
safety and security measures. O cials are working to meet requirements by the end of the school year.
WHAT'S IN THE BILL? 1 At least one armed o cer must be on each public school campus during school hours. 2 Employees who regularly interact with students must have mental health training. 3 Districts must create procedures for students to report concerning behavior. 4 Discipline records and threat assessments will transfer with students between schools. 5 Parents will get a text or email about violent activity investigations on campus. 6 Districts failing to meet safety infrastructure standards must use bond funds to x things. HOW IT'S FUNDED • NEISD received an estimated $1M from the state and will hire 46 safety specialists. • NISD received nearly $3M from the state and will hire an additional 20 police o cers .
SOURCES: NORTH EAST ISD, NORTHSIDE ISD, STATE OF TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
13
NORTH SAN ANTONIO EDITION • AUGUST 2023
Powered by FlippingBook