EDUCATION Tomball ISD expected to have 29 school resource o cers starting Oct. 1
2023 EDUCATION EDITION
million in the proposed scal year 2023-24 general fund budget for safety and security, with another $600,000 coming from a grant, according to MISD. School safety legislation Becoming law Sept. 1, House Bill 3 mandates that all districts have at least one armed security o cer on campus. MISD is in compliance; TISD will be in compliance as of Oct. 1. Districts will also receive $15,000 per campus and a $0.28 increase to the per-student safety allotment, bringing it to $10. “We’re not trying to be ungrateful for the dollars that may ow from the state,” Gutierrez said. “But when you look at the totality of what’s required to really enact those requirements, it’s insu cient.” Gutierrez also said TISD is antici- pating spending roughly $5 million to comply with the Texas Education Agency’s updated Commissioner’s Rules Concerning School Facilities. “There is certainly a nancial obstacle that’s been placed on us that will cause us to have to reevaluate and assess how we allocate dollars,” he said. Emily Lincke contributed to this report.
Gov. Greg Abbott signed House Bill 3 into law June 14, which will be e ective Sept. 1. The bill gives the state more oversight of districts’ safety and security measures. BREAKING DOWN HOUSE BILL 3
BY LIZZY SPANGLER
The constable’s o ce also launched a guardian program allowing volun- teer retired peace o cers to sup- plement SRO services at campuses, according to an Aug. 7 news release. In terms of its own police depart- ment, Gutierrez said the district did explore that possibility. “We know that we can do it—we have a plan and a roadmap for executing if needed,” Gutierrez said. “But we also want to leave that place of law enforcement and providing a safe and secure environment to law enforcement.” Magnolia ISD, meanwhile, is partnered with Montgomery County Precinct 5 Constable’s O ce to provide an SRO for each campus and two SROs for each high school, the district con rmed in an email. MISD o cials said the district has several projects underway to enhance safety, including installing non-scal- able 6-foot-tall fencing, glass lm for entryways and a new districtwide phone system. The district has allocated $1.72
As the school year begins, districts are focused on safety and security, allocating money for school resource o cers and campus upgrades. In Tomball ISD, a new agreement trustees approved Aug. 8 is expected to increase the number of o cers to 29, TISD Chief Operating O cer Steven Gutierrez said. TISD began the 2023-24 school year with 20 SROs provided by the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable’s O ce. “That would basically provide one-to-one coverage [per campus] throughout the district, including command sta that will be supervis- ing those o cers,” Gutierrez said. The district’s current contract with Precinct 4 runs through the end of the county’s scal year, Sept. 30, and then the new agreement would begin Oct. 1, Gutierrez said, following county approval. TISD entered into its agreement with the constable’s o ce following the termination of its agreement with the city of Tomball in February.
WHAT’S IN THE BILL?
1 At least one armed o cer must be on each public school campus during school hours. 2 School district employees who regularly interact with students must have mental health training. 3 Districts must create procedures for students to report concerning behavior by other students. 4 A child’s discipline record and threat assessments will be required to transfer with them between schools. 5 Parents will be noti ed via text or email about violent activity investigations on their child’s campus. 6 Districts failing to meet safety infrastructure standards must reallocate bond funds to x the issues.
SOURCE: TEXAS LEGISLATURE ONLINE COMMUNITY IMPACT
ADDING OFFICERS
RISING SECURITY SPENDING
In scal year 2023-24, both Tomball and Magnolia ISDs will be spending at least $1 million on security services.
Key:
Key:
Tomball ISD’s SRO program is expected to have 29 o cers in October.
Number of school resource o cers
Tomball ISD Magnolia ISD
October: 29
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
August: 20
$0 $500K $1M $1.5M $2M $2.5M
March: 16
12
9
8
5
4
2011
2016
2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
FY 2019-20 FY 2020-21 FY 2021-22 FY 2022-23 FY 2023-24
SOURCES: TOMBALL ISD, CITY OF TOMBALL COMMUNITY IMPACT
SOURCE: TOMBALL AND MAGNOLIA ISDS COMMUNITY IMPACT
With on-site x-rays, skilled providers, and orthopedic physicians on call, we can quickly determine if you have fracture, sprain or strain.
WHETHER YOU’RE ACHEY OR BREAKY.
Scan for the nearest location. Open 9am – 9pm, 7 days a week nextlevelurgentcare.com
21
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION • AUGUST 2023
Powered by FlippingBook