SAN ANTONIO – School districts across San Antonio are rolling out new safety and security measures this school year, while new state requirements are expanding what districts must consider in their emergency planning.
In North East ISD, part of that work is happening inside a former school campus that has been transformed into a training ground for police and other first responders.
The Wilshire Safety Training Center gives North East ISD and its partners a place to practice responding to threats, medical emergencies and other situations inside an actual school environment.
“Usually, you do tabletops or different exercises, and you’re able to discuss how you’d respond as a team, but here we’re actually able to train in a school environment,” NEISD Safety and Security Coordinator Fiona Halloway said.
The district converted the campus into the training facility after consolidating schools.
Wilshire Safety Training Center session for law enforcement
Halloway said having access to a realistic setting can help first responders better prepare for emergencies they could encounter on a campus.
“It is unique, and I myself haven’t heard of any other district doing this. It’s vital to student, staff, and visitor safety,” she said.
The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office will also use the site for its training.
We reported in February that using the former school will allow the consolidation of other BCSO training.
“It will basically be cost-neutral,” Sheriff Javier Salazar said. “I believe we’re saving a little money.”
The county will pay NEISD $6,500 a month for the building’s use for the next five years, totaling $78,000.
Northside ISD adds door alarms, officers and emergency manager
Northside ISD is also making changes to campus security.
One of the most noticeable additions is a system of door-monitoring alarms. If an exterior door is left open on a campus, a loud alarm sounds, triggering a warning to district police and the school’s front office.
“You can’t miss that audible alarm. It’s pretty loud,” Northside ISD Police Chief Richard Palomo said.
The alarms are not required by state law, but Palomo said they are installed at campuses across the district to reinforce the practice of keeping exterior doors closed and locked.
Northside ISD door monitoring alarms (Courtesy NISD)
Northside ISD has also added new police officers as it works toward the state requirement of having at least one armed security officer at each campus.
Palomo said recruiting has been going well, even as other law enforcement agencies face staffing challenges.
“And if you give me another couple years, I think we’ll have an officer at every campus, if not sooner,” he said.
The district is also putting more focus on mental and physical safety this year.
That includes intensive training on youth mental health issues and the addition of a new emergency manager who will help oversee district security and training.
“He’s gonna make sure our schools are hardened, and he’s also gonna be responsible for training,” Palomo said.
New state requirements expand school safety planning
Texas is also expanding what school districts are expected to include in their emergency planning.
New requirements call for districts’ multihazard emergency operations plans to include provisions addressing the safety of students, staff and spectators attending extracurricular activities.
That means emergency planning must extend beyond the regular school day to events such as athletics and other after-school activities.
The state is also strengthening its ability to intervene when districts do not meet school safety requirements.
The Texas education commissioner can appoint a conservator if a school system fails to participate in required safety monitoring, assessments or audits, does not comply with school safety requirements, or fails to address problems identified through state oversight.
For local districts, the changes add another layer to an already growing focus on prevention, preparation and response.