Education
BY CASSANDRA JENKINS
Early education centers examine safety, security measures
The 88th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3 this year to improve safety and security at public schools. The bill requires all campuses in a school district to have at least one armed ocer. While the bill only applies to schools in the public education system, some early education centers are following the state’s example by improving their own safety and security measures at day cares and preschools in The Woodlands area. Current situation Kevin Kilgore, owner of the Legends Ranch Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy location, is opening a new Kids ‘R’ Kids academy in Woodson’s Reserve in early 2024. He said safety and security is a top priority as he prepares to open his second location. He intends to use a combination of armed ocers and advanced technology, practices which are in place at the Legends Ranch location. Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies are child care facilities owned by franchisees with over 100 locations in the country. According to the company’s website, Kids ‘R’ Kids cares for infants, toddlers and preschoolers as well as older children in a before- and after-school program. “There’s been a trend shift, if you will, in the security layer of what we need in the preschool world,” Kilgore said. “We have children that can just get up and run out of the building, but if there’s an active shooter, we also have babies in cribs who can’t get up and run. So we’ve had to
The Woodlands area in Tomball, Magnolia and Spring. Chas Kurtz, public relations manager for the corporate oce, said the school recently conducted a survey that showed safety and security was the second-most important factor for parents when selecting an early education provider. “At The Goddard School, the safety and well- being of all members of our community is always our top priority,” Kurtz said. The future According to the Child Care Technical Assistance Network, a system operated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, child care facilities are only required to meet minimum health and safety standards, which does not mention protection beyond building safety, emergency preparedness and transportation. Kilgore, who has helped build three Kids ‘R’ Kids schools in Texas, said the industry has evolved in the last several years, and he believes security needs to be addressed as a priority. Aside from his existing measures, he said the Legends Ranch location has become a beta tester for a new security-based articial intelligence technology created by PB&J TV, a web camera system provider. Kilgore said the new camera system is designed to detect weaponry. For example, it can determine if a weapon is owned by a police ocer by detecting a properly holstered weapon. The AI technology will be implemented at the new Woodson’s Reserve location when it opens. Kilgore said he hopes it will become a part of future security measures for all day cares and preschools.
Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Legends Ranch employs a security guard among other safety measures.
Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy • 2 locations in The Woodlands area, 1 coming soon Safety and security measures include: • A full-time security guard on premises • Front desk assistants who are equipped with emergency pendants that will alert the sheriff’s department • iPads in all classrooms with a soft touch button that will deploy a local oficer The Goddard School system • 3 locations in The Woodlands area Safety and security measures include: • Security systems • Video surveillance cameras that monitor all entrances, parking lots and play areas • A biometric system at each entrance door to keep out unauthorized visitors
take that extra step.” Another viewpoint
The Goddard School is another private child care facility that serves children nationally from infant to school age, and it has three locations in
SOURCES: THE GODDARD SCHOOL, KIDS ‘R’ KIDS LEARNING ACADEMY OF LEGENDS RANCHCOMMUNITY IMPACT
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