Commissioner, campuses talk security enhancements

With school safety at the center of a Texas Education Agency directive sent out a the end of September, local districts are reviewing their protocols and processes.

Sept. 29, Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath sent a letter to local school districts encouraging enhanced school security in the wake of gubernatorial orders requiring the directive.

In a letter from Governor Greg Abbott dated June 2, the Commissioner of Education was charged with developing strategies to encourage school districts to increase the presence of trained law enforcement officers and school marshals on campuses. To inform planning efforts, each local educational agency was directed to reference Texas Education Code §37.081, the code utilized in the production of several Southeast Texas school district police departments.

As provided by the education code, the board of trustees of any school district may employ security personnel, enter into a memorandum of understanding with a local law enforcement agency for the provision of school resource officers and commission licensed peace officers.

“A school district peace officer, a school resource officer and security personnel shall perform law enforcement duties for the school district that must include protecting the safety and welfare of any person in the jurisdiction of the peace officer, resource officer, or security personnel, and the property of the school district,” the TEA advises.

The board of trustees of the school district can determine the specific law enforcement duties of peace officers, school resource officers, and security personnel, but those duties cannot include routine student discipline or school administrative tasks.

A school district peace officer or school resource officer must complete an active shooter response training program approved by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) and attend training designed to assist officers and school districts with compliance of legislative mandates.

School district marshals are regulated more stringently, according to the TEA advisement, however. According to TCOLE, “The purpose of a school marshal is to prevent the act of murder or serious bodily injury on school premises, and act only as defined by the written regulations adopted by the school board/governing body.”

After making application with TCOLE, a qualifying institution must send a marshal candidate to an 80-hour training course, conducted by a law enforcement academy that has been specifically prepared to provide the school marshal curriculum covering topics such as: physical security, improving the security of the campus, use of force, active shooter response and weapon proficiency.

Texas school districts are also afforded the “Guardian Option,” which allows school employees, who hold a license, to carry a handgun. Lumberton ISD has posted signs that lets stakeholders know the district is already instituting that provision.

“This program allows anyone designated by a local school board to carry firearms on campus, including staff,” TEA advises. “Training and specific requirements for guardians are determined locally.”

As of Sept. 30, all local school districts are now afforded access to ALERRT’s Civilian Response to Active Shooter Events (CRASE) training through the regional education service centers. And, with school district administration looking to beef up law enforcement response, measures are also being taken to address security issues – as well as criminal activity – among the student population.

Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas administrator/campus coordinator Jeremy Raley visited West Brook High School on Sept. 28 continuing in a series of programs that will be presented throughout this school year, according to Beaumont ISD. Each grade level heard a presentation that covered information about the campus program, vaping, bullying and the P3 tips app.

“The presentations at West Brook exceeded my expectations,” Raley said. “Students were really paying attention and several thanked me afterwards. They said they liked the information and knowing it was available.

“Even better, many staff members thanked me, as well. They said they were grateful and felt students were engaged.”

West Brook principal Nicholas Phillips echoed Raley’s optimistic review.

“The students were attentive and asked some good questions in response,” he said.

“Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas is a great organization that helps … prevent dangerous and potentially life-threatening situations from occurring among our student populations both on and off campus,” Phillips said. “Reports of bullying, cyberbullying, truancy, sexual misconduct, suicide hindrance, animal cruelty, illegal drugs, weapons, human trafficking, theft, child abuse, date violence and more can all be submitted through the anonymous tip reporting system.”

The goal of Crime Stoppers is to encourage community members to assist local law enforcement agencies in the fight against crime by overcoming the two key elements that inhibit community involvement, BISD shared: fear and apathy. Raley presented at Early College High School on Sept. 22 and gave an abbreviated presentation to students and parents at the Smith Middle School Goals Night in August. More campus visits will be scheduled soon. For more information, visit 833tips.com.

Jennifer Johnson is The Examiner’s managing editor. She can be reached at (409) 434-8821, Ext. 231, or jenniferjohnson@theexaminer.com.