By Pleasanton Express Staff | on August 10, 2022
Pleasanton Elementary’s Destiny Bosquez and Mrs. Votion start their first day with a great attitude and a smile. ALYX MORGAN | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Gov. Greg Abbott has handed down a directive for random intruder detection audits in the wake of the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde on May 24 that left 21 dead and 17 injured.
Local law enforcement, ACSO, ISD Police Chiefs, SROs and school administration have been spending the summer making Atascosa County school safety and security a priority.
After the mass school shooting in Uvalde, Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) to conduct comprehensive school safety reviews immediately to ensure all Texas public schools follow the appropriate procedures to maximize school safety.
Random intruder detection audits of schools will begin in September, according to TxSSC officials, with a goal to inspect 100% of school districts and 75% of campuses across the state by the end of the school year. TxSSC officials said they would alert districts and local law enforcement of the audits, but school campuses will not be informed ahead of time.
Jourdanton Elementary students, Walter Tate and Mackenzie Womele, greet Mrs. Vasquez on their first day back to school. ALYX MORGAN | PLEASANTON EXPRESS
Gov. Abbott also sent a letter on June 2 to TEA Commissioner Mike Morath directing the Texas Education Agency to ensure existing school facilities are held to heightened safety standards following the shooting in Uvalde.
Understandably, parents around the state are anxious about the safety of schools as their children return. With 27 school shootings in the U.S. in 2022, it is not only Texans that are concerned about school safety and security.
The Pleasanton Express visited each area ISD for a security update. Each of the school districts has adjusted the safety parameters around their campuses. Included are some of the security updates made within each school district.
Pleasanton ISD Superintendent Cheryl Barron said,”Safety and security is a shared responsibility between the district and the community we serve. Safety is a top priority in Pleasanton ISD and we will continue to work together for the safety of our staff and students.”
Safety and Security Updates Pleasanton ISD
• All faculty, staff and substitutes trained on Civilian Response To Active Shooter Events (C.R.A.S.E).
• Implementation of the Standard Response Protocol (S.R.P) to district to include training on procedures.
• Conducted safety and door audits on all campuses.
• Upgraded access control on all campuses’ main entrance vestibules
• Ballistic review for main vestibule doors and windows.
• Upgraded fencing and locking mechanisms on all campuses.
• Implementation of the Navigate360 Emergency Management System.
• Additional Officer added for patrol and campus functions.
• Implementation of a Safe and Supportive School Team.
Jourdanton Police Chief Eric Kaiser and Jourdanton ISD Superintendent Theresa McAllister have met numerous times over the summer to discuss improvements to the school’s security. Recently, Officer Kori Martinez was hired as the school resource officer for the 2022-2023 school year.
Safety and Security Updates Jourdanton ISD
• Installation of window film on all campus exterior windows and doors
• Connect A-Wing and A-Annex opening with brick and mortar walls on La Parita side where restrooms are located.
• Jourdanton PD and Atascosa County Sheriff’s Department have access to all main entrances.
• District SRO provided through the Jourdanton Police Department.
• Adding law enforcement officers for assemblies, awards, etc.
• Raptor Alert Software for emergencies and to notify Jourdanton Police Department.
• Raptor Check-In for guests during visits, including assemblies, awards, etc., during school hours.
• Signage indicating Law Enforcement on Campus.
• Random searches by a certified K9 unit.
• Identify and number all exterior doors.
• Exterior Door Safety Audit and Targeted Partial Safety Audit conducted at each campus during July of this summer.
• Upgraded and replaced security cameras throughout the district.
• Safety Audit required every three years and reported to the State – Completed October 2020.
• Yearly Review of Emergency Operations Plan – July 19, 2022.
• Emergency Operations Plan submitted and approved to the Texas State Safety School Center – February 12, 2021.
• Beyond Active Shooter Training at JISD – July 6th and 7th.
• Ticket Booth/Movie Ticket Windows at each campus office – not complete.
• High School Vestibule – not complete.
Poteet Superintendent Charles Camarillo said, “Our main goal is to make sure our adults are ever vigilant and aware of their surroundings and that every adult takes an active role in ensuring our building doors are closed, locked and secure at all times,” Camarillo said. “We believe our best approach is securing our schools from the inside out so that any threat is isolated outside.”
Safety and Security Updates Poteet ISD
• Security vestibule under construction at Poteet High School.
• Security vestibule under construction at Poteet Jr. High.
• Security film on all glass at high school and jr. high.
• Security film on glass entrance at elementary and intermediate.
• Requirement of clear or mesh backpacks for high school and jr. high
• New fencing to secure intermediate campus from School Drive.
• Additional police officer for intermediate and elementary.
• Certified K9 for drugs, tobacco and vapes.
• Working on a plan to have access control at all buildings.
Pct. 3 Deputy JeCody Cornelius serves as the 2022-2023 school year school resource officer for Charlotte ISD.
“Multiple security checks are done throughout the day on foot and in my patrol unit,” Deputy Cornelius said. “The school was brought up to speed on communicating on COPsync, a system that the Constables Office as well as the Charlotte PD [use], to ensure if a situation were to come about, the response time would be drastically lowered.”
Safety and Security Updates Charlotte ISD
• Installed metal detectors at all main entrances.
• Ballistic tint installed around the district in progress.
• Added more security cameras around the perimeter of the campus.
• Participated in active shooter training Aug. 3.
• School resource officer on campus at all times.
• Using COPsync to enhance real-time communication between law enforcement officials.
• Hired third party security specialists to perform safety assessments.
• Administrative staff participated in active shooter training in Floresville.
• Identified all four sides of every building.
• Audited all exterior doors and has replaced many of the older ones.
“School security is a 365-day activity,” Orozco said. “We’ve done active shooter training, but it’s also monitoring the facility itself. It’s making sure that entering buildings and exiting buildings is monitored and that every day you have to be vigilant about what you’re doing.”
David Soward’s school safety focus was beefed up five years ago with Operation Safe School.
“This year marks our fifth consecutive year of Operation Safe School. This was implemented five years ago to provide additional security at our school campuses in Atascosa County. We have gone a step further this year, in light of the Uvalde tragedy and have placed even more deputies at the schools the first few days. We have deputies there for additional hours as well. In addition to this service that we provide to Charlotte, Jourdanton, Lytle, Pleasanton and Poteet ISDs as well as the Catholic School in Pleasanton, all of our personnel on a daily basis make unannounced routine stops at the schools, patrol the campuses and parking lots and provide a high visibility of law enforcement. Not only do the patrol deputies and transport deputies participate, but our unmarked units driven by investigators and my command staff do as well. We also do morning child drop-off monitoring and afternoon pick-up patrol at various campuses.”
Sheriff Soward said that he has offered assistance to all local police departments and school resource officers in making our schools safe.
“Many of my deputies and I have attended multiple training classes this summer regarding school security and safety. It has always been one of my highest priorities and will continue to be. We also urge everyone, including the children to report anything they may see or hear to law enforcement or school administration.”
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