School districts throughout North Texas have been updating their security plans previously 12 months on account of a gunman killing 19 scholars and two lecturers in Uvalde study rooms precisely three hundred and sixty five days in the past. Below is a listing of adjustments that have been made in unbiased college districts since May 24, 2022:
Pilot Point ISD put in “Go to Green” in its schools this college 12 months. It’s an emergency evacuation device that makes use of gentle sensors to turn scholars the place a shooter is and the place it is protected to run to.
Frisco ISD introduced a brand new program final 12 months that put extra college useful resource officials in basic schools. In August, the district employed 3 new SROs to patrol basic schools solely.
Beginning summer time of 2023, all basic schools in Plano ISD will get started including doorways to all study rooms these days with out doorways and can start putting in entry-resistant movie to all number one and secondary entries and home windows strategically during the construction. Completion district-wide is predicted through December 2023.
Desoto ISD banned backpacks for heart and highschool scholars in April for the rest of the college 12 months.
Dallas ISD additionally banned backpacks that don’t seem to be transparent or mesh for heart and highschool scholars within the fall. The district has additionally modified the way it handles paintings orders through right away prioritizing any protection repairs factor similar to a damaged door, with the function finishing touch inside of 24 and 36 hours.
Keller ISD authorized a plan to permit lecturers and team of workers to hide raise on campus. In a 4-3 vote, the college board authorized the state’s “guardian” program, which allows licensed qualified staff to hold weapons on campus.
Fort Worth ISD applied a brand new emergency control conversation device and pledged to cut back the selection of transportable study rooms.
Burleson ISD employed 8 further armed college protection officials this 12 months. The district has additionally partnered with native police departments to extend officer presence on and round campuses and expanded its steel detection functions, together with a bag coverage. Additionally, the district has an lively position on its web page the place any person can see real-time information about college lockdowns.
“I went to school to be an English teacher. And now I have to be a security expert. That’s the world we live in, and we’ve got to do it,” stated Pilot Point ISD’s superintendent Todd Southard in an interview with WFAA.
There is a real fear around the nation about retaining schools protected, in keeping with Tiffanie Blackmon-Jones, leader of communications at Desoto ISD.