SCHOOL SAFETY
CLOSING LOOPHOLES
Nothing can prepare a parent for the news that there has been a breach in school security. Schools can prepare BEFORE these situations do happen, and we should.
The best way to prepare is not necessarily adding police officers to schools. The best way to prepare, is to add layers of security, much like the layers of an onion. If any one layer fails, additional layers will be there as backup. The Texas Legislature understood this and has provided for two programs, the Guardian Program and the School Marshall Program. While nearly 100 school districts across Texas have implemented these extra layers of protection, Montgomery ISD has not.
Perhaps you have heard that when seconds matter, the police are only minutes away. These programs significantly reduce response time as well as additional awareness. Both programs have extensive training and other requirements but the details of how they would be implemented are left almost entirely to the school board. The board can tailor them with input from the public, teachers, and local law enforcement. They work similarly to how air marshals operate on an airplane, never seen or known, but always available when needed. The State of Texas has grants for these programs and the cost to the district is almost negligible, and is a huge cost savings over adding additional police officers. I want to know we are doing everything we can to keep our schools safe. I will fight to keep your children safe.