AISD works to implement state school safety directives

By Donnie A. Lucas

School safety has come to the forefront in Albany and across the state over the summer due to a directive issued by the governor to the Texas Education Agency following a mass shooting at Uvalde ISD in May that left 19 students and two teachers dead.

Albany school officials have spent a considerable amount of time this summer conducting a targeted safety audit that largely focuses on access to school buildings.

“We have spent a lot of time dedicated to increasing security of our students and staff,” superintendent Jonathan Scott said. “We have had to do due diligence to survey our facilities and improve our safety plan, making sure that it is taught and practiced by staff and students.”

Scott said that he, the campus principals, and director of maintenance conducted the required safety audits that focused on the school’s safety plan, including the condition and safety of every exterior door in the district.

As a result of the survey of accessibility, the superintendent said that nine more exterior entrance doors will be fitted with the same electronic door system that was added to three doors at each campus two years ago.

“We bought nine more devices for doors – three at the elementary and six at the secondary campus – that will hopefully be installed before classes start,” he said. “We are also adding additional cameras to our surveillance systems at both campuses.”

In addition, the school hired Xavier Perez as the director of school safety and operations for the upcoming school year.

“His job will be to provide safety to students, staff, and visitors during the regular school day and at special events,” Scott said. “He will provide leadership in developing and monitoring all safety protocols and assure that all staff and students follow those policies.”

The district also adopted a School Guardian Program, which allows one or more designated district employees to possess certain firearms while on campus or at school activities.

As a retired DPS officer and the county’s current constable, Scott said that Perez already meets and exceeds the training required for the program.

Scott explained that the district is moving toward the School Marshall Plan, which requires an 80-hour training certification that can not be in place by the start of school.

The Guardian Plan requires completion of a 16-hour training course. Additional staff members may be designated to be armed during the school day to provide protection for themselves and students in the event of an active shooter.

Other Safety Steps

Scott said that a survey of staff members in May provided other possible safety measurers.

“We are looking at getting quotes on the design of fencing for some locations on our campuses,” Scott said. “That will take some time for the bid process and then presenting it to the board.”

Scott said all of the measures are going to be helpful in ultimately making the district more secure.

“The most important aspects are to have a workable plan in place and train people how to implement it, including the students,” Scott said.  “The days of blocking doors open are over.”

An emergency panic system that would automatically notify law enforcement and other school personnel if needed is also being considered.

“TEA has promised to help fund these improvements. Of course, we have heard that from them in past, and it doesn’t always work out that way,” he said. “Currently, TEA only provides $4,000 per year to us for safety, which is ridiculous.”

TEA has also indicated that the school will need to conduct weekly checks on all exterior doors to be sure they are secure and operating properly, along with maintaining records of those inspections.

Scott said that the district is planning to improve and expand the phone systems on both campuses, along with repairing or replacing the intercom systems to provide better communication.

There will also be a focus on providing a single entry point at both campuses for visitors, which was somewhat accomplished when magnetic locking doors were installed two years ago.

“We are looking at the cost of installing interior walls with locking doors at both main entries to create a secure vestibule where visitors have to be buzzed in through both sets of doors,” Scott said.

He said that limited access would be provided from within the vestibule for dropping off items for students by parents who do not need to have access to classrooms.

All school employees attend a day-long security training during the professional development days when they return to campus.