[Call to Order]
[00:00:05]
>> I CALL THIS MEETING OF THE LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES TO ORDER ON MARCH 10TH AT 6:30 PM.
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT A QUORUM OF BOARD MEMBERS IS PRESENT, THAT THIS MEETING HAS BEEN DULY CALLED AND THAT NOTICE OF THIS MEETING HAS BEEN POSTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEXAS OPEN MEETING ACT, TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE CHAPTER 551.
LET THE RECORD SHOW THAT TRUSTEES PULLIAM, WRIGHT, GUYTON, LOCKHART, AND CHARLES ARE PRESENT.
THAT WILL BE MARCH 10TH, 2025 BY THE BOARD.
WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 2, PUBLIC COMMENTS.
[Public Comment]
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO SIGNED UP TO MAKE COMMENTS.LET ME READ OUR STANDARD MESSAGE HERE BEFORE WE GET STARTED.
THE BOARD WILL HEAR COMMENTS FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO SIGNED UP TO SPEAK BEFORE THE MEETING BEGINS.
ANYONE WHO WANTS TO SPEAK DURING PUBLIC COMMENTS MUST SIGN IN PRIOR TO THE START OF THE MEETING AND LIST THE AGENDA ITEM THEY WANT TO DISCUSS.
EACH PUBLIC COMMENT SPEAKER WILL BE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF 5 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
ANY PUBLIC TESTIMONY SPEAKER WHO REQUIRES A TRANSLATOR WILL RECEIVE UP TO 10 MINUTES TO ADDRESS THE BOARD.
THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE MEETING WILL ALLOW ALL SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SIGNED UP BEFORE THE START OF THE MEETING TO ADDRESS THE BOARD REGARDING AN ITEM OF TONIGHT'S AGENDA.
THE BOARD ENCOURAGES PRESENTERS TO KEEP COMMENTS OR CRITICISMS CIVIL AND COURTEOUS.
PLEASE ALSO AVOID USING PROFANITY.
LAST, WE ASK THAT YOU NOT DISCUSS STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT YOUR OWN CHILD.
IF A SPEAKER IS SEEKING BOARD RESOLUTION OF A SPECIFIC COMPLAINT, THE BOARD MAY ONLY PROVIDE RELIEF THROUGH THE DISTRICT'S GRIEVANCE PROCESS.
DISTRICT POLICY DGBA HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED FOR ADDRESSING EMPLOYEE COMPLAINTS.
POLICY FNG IS AVENUE FOR FILING PARENTS COMPLAINTS, AND POLICY GF ADDRESSES COMMUNITY MEMBERS COMPLAINT.
GRIEVANCE FORMS CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OR IN THE CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION OFFICE.
WE WILL START WITH FIRST CARD HERE IS MS. HEATHER PETERSON.
MS. PETERSON, FOR THE RECORD, WILL YOU STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, WHEN YOU GET UP TO THE PODIUM.
ADDRESS 180 INDIAN TRAIL, LOCKHART, TEXAS.
SORRY, I DIDN'T DO GOOD PREPARING.
I CURRENTLY HAVE A 1ST AND 5TH GRADER.
I AM VERY INVOLVED IN PTO ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOLS.
MY COMMENT IS, I WANT TO URGE OUR COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION TO DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO ENSURE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF STUDENTS AND STAFF.
PRIVACY AND RIGHTS ARE LOWEST PRIORITY.
HIGHEST PRIORITY IS PHYSICAL SAFETY ON SCHOOL GROUNDS. THANK YOU.
>> MS. BARBARA SHELTON. AGAIN, WILL YOU PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE FOR THE RECORD.
>> MY NAME IS BARBARA SHELTON.
I LIVE AT 4563 OLD MCMAHAN ROAD, LOCKHART, TEXAS.
I AM HERE TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY OF THESE SCHOOLS, NOT JUST ONE, BUT ALL.
I HAVE HAD CHILDREN GO THROUGH THE SCHOOL SYSTEM ALREADY AND I'M DOING THAT AGAIN.
AFTER THE CURRENT INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED AT THE LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH, IT'S VERY HIGH CONCERN.
IT DOES HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY.
THERE'S OTHER THINGS HAPPENING IN OUR COMMUNITY THAT IF YOU'RE WATCHING AND LISTENING, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OUR CHILDREN ARE NOT AS SAFE AS THEY USED TO BE.
I FEEL THAT WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO MAKE OUR CHILDREN SAFE.
I APPRECIATE THE FACT OF THE CLEAR BACKPACK POLICY, ALTHOUGH MY CHILD DOES NOT LIKE THAT, SO HE'S TOTALLY QUIT TAKING SNACKS TO SCHOOL, WHICH IS PROBABLY A PLUS.
BUT I KNOW THAT'S A DETERRENT IN A WAY, BUT IT'S NOT ENOUGH.
BECAUSE YOU CAN'T FINISH WHAT'S LEFT, THEIR SOCKS, THEIR SHOES, THEIR UNDERWEAR.
THERE'S BAGS THE CHILDREN HAVE TO TAKE TO SCHOOL, THEY HAVE SPORTS THAT THEY HAVE TO TAKE THINGS, THEY HAVE FUN, THERE'S ALL THESE DIFFERENT THINGS THESE CHILDREN HAVE TO TAKE BACK AND FORTH TO SCHOOL.
ONE OF THOSE IS A LIBRARY BOOK.
I'VE INSTRUCTED MY CHILD, DON'T CHECK OUT ANYMORE LIBRARY BOOKS.
BECAUSE IF HE HAS NOTHING TO CARRY THEM IN, I DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANOTHER KID SAYING, "HEY, I REALLY WISH I'D HAVE GOT THAT BOOK." AND THEY TAKE IT BECAUSE WE DO KNOW THERE ARE THIEVES AMONG US IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT,
[00:05:03]
IN OUR CHILDREN. SADLY, BUT YES.I JUST FEEL THAT WHEN WE HAD THE MEETING AT THE JUNIOR HIGH, THERE WAS ABOUT 35 PARENTS IN ATTENDANCE.
MANY ARE HERE TONIGHT, AND THAT WAS ON FEBRUARY 24TH.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE COMMUNICATION ERRORS THAT HAPPENED AT THAT SCHOOL.
MY CHILD WILL BE LEAVING THAT SCHOOL AND GOING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL.
IN THE THREE YEARS HE'S THERE, THE COMMUNICATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MOST LACKING THINGS THAT HAS HAPPENED.
WE DON'T KNOW ANYTHING UNTIL LONG PAST WHAT HAPPENS.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS THAT WAS MADE THE OTHER NIGHT, I STILL HAVE IT ON THIS PAPER, WAS THAT IT WAS JUST A BIG OVERSIGHT.
THERE'S NO ROOM FOR OVERSIGHT.
THERE'S NO REASON THAT ONE PERSON SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF DOING ONE JOB.
IF I'M OUT SICK ON MY JOB, SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE ABLE TO PICK THAT UP.
DO YOU AGREE? THAT IS EXACTLY HOW THAT SHOULD WORK.
YOU CAN'T WAIT UNTIL SOMEBODY COMES BACK A WEEK LATER THAT THEY'VE HAD COVID OR IN THE HOSPITAL OR WHATEVER.
YOU NEED SOMEBODY TO BACK THEM UP AND HELP THEM.
I DO FEEL THAT MR. MILLER IS A ONE MAN SHOW. THAT'S TOUGH ON HIM.
HE'S LISTENED TO ME AND HE'S AGREED IN WAYS OF WHAT I SAY, HE CAN'T BE A ONE MAN SHOW.
I KNOW THAT WE HAVE FIVE PRINCIPALS AT THAT JUNIOR HIGH.
WHEN WE CAN'T GET A NOTICE OUT UNTIL AFTER EVERYTHING'S HAPPENED THAT A HOLD HAS BEEN LIFTED, WE NEVER KNEW THE HOLD WAS ON THERE.
THAT HAPPENED JUST THE OTHER DAY.
I GET ONE THAT SAYS A HOLD IS LIFTED.
THAT PUTS MORE CONCERN ON ME THAN IT DID IF I KNEW YOU WENT ON A HOLD BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT A HOLD IS, AND I KNOW YOU'VE GOT IT UNDER CONTROL.
COMMUNICATION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST LACKING THINGS AT THAT JUNIOR HIGH RIGHT NOW, AND IT'S BEEN FOR THREE YEARS.
I BECAME VERY VERBAL THIS YEAR ABOUT IT.
VERY. I JUST FEEL THAT WE TOOK A POLL ABOUT HOW MANY PARENTS IN THERE WOULD AGREE THAT WE NEEDED METAL DETECTORS, I DON'T FEEL THAT PUTS MY KID IN SCHOOL.
A FENCE WILL MAKE YOU FEEL THAT WAY, AND I APPRECIATE THE FENCES.
BUT I THINK THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE'RE GOING TO DETER A LOT BECAUSE I THINK ONE DETERRENT FOR THAT KID THE OTHER DAY WAS THAT THERE HAPPENED TO BE THE DRUG DOG ON CAMPUS.
BEING THAT DRUG DOG IS THERE, HE PROBABLY DIDN'T HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO KNOW THAT, BETTER NOT DO THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO CATCH ME, ALTHOUGH HE WAS JUST A DRUG DOG.
[NOISE] I APPRECIATE IT FOR THAT.
BUT AS FAR AS SAFETY, WE HAVE A OFFICER AT EVERY SCHOOL THAT HAS 500 KIDS IN IT.
WE HAVE A JUNIOR HIGH WITH 1,500 PLUS KIDS, WE HAVE ONE OFFICER.
MR. TORRES CANNOT BE A ONE MAN SHOW.
THERE HAS TO BE MONEY IN THAT BUDGET FOR US TO HAVE ONE PER 500.
WHICH MEANS WE SHOULD HAVE THREE OFFICERS ON THAT CAMPUS.
BECAUSE IF HE'S DEALING WITH THE FIGHT ON THIS CAR, WHO'S DEALING WITH THE ONE ON THE OTHER CORNER? WHO'S GOING TO SEE IT? WHO'S GOING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS? THESE ARE SERIOUS CONCERNS, FOLKS.
OUR WORLD IS SAD, BUT IT'S WHERE WE'RE AT.
MY KID DOES NOT FEEL LIKE HE WOULD FEEL UNSAFE.
THE QUESTION WAS BROUGHT UP. WELL, IF THE BUZZER GOES OFF.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. FOR THE RECORD, I'D LIKE THE NOTE THAT TRUSTEE RAYOS SHOWED UP AT 6:33 PM.
OUR NEXT SPEAKER IS KIMBERLY MOORE.
PLEASE STATE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, PLEASE, MA'AM.
>> MY NAME IS KIMBERLY MOORE. I LIVE AT 222 SUNSHADOW DRIVE.
ONE WEEK AFTER THE THEN INCIDENT AT THE JUNIOR HIGH, MY SON HAD A STUDENT THREATENED THAT HE WOULD KILL HIM AND HAS CONTINUOUSLY HARASSED HIM.
THE PUNISHMENT FOR THE OTHER STUDENT IS JUST A SLAP ON THE HAND.
OF COURSE, ANY STUDENT THAT WAS WITNESSED TO THIS, CONVENIENTLY COULDN'T REMEMBER ANYTHING THAT OCCURRED AT THE TIME.
OF COURSE, MY SON IS STILL BEING HARASSED ON A DAILY BASIS BY THE STUDENT WHEN HE DOES COME TO SCHOOL.
[00:10:05]
HOW IS THE ZERO TOLERANCE ON THE BULLYING BEING HANDLED? BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, I DON'T SEE ANY THINGS HAPPENING ON IT.>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. WE WILL NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 3,
[School Safety & Security Discussion]
COMMUNICATION, A, SCHOOL SAFETY, AND SECURITY DISCUSSION. ESTRADA.>> SURE. THANK YOU. WE ARE HERE HAVING THIS MEETING.
THE ONLY AGENDA ITEM THAT WE HAVE, OBVIOUSLY, WE HAVE MANY CONCERNED PARENTS.
WE HAVE OUR ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM HERE AS WELL, REALLY TO WALK THROUGH A CONVERSATION, NOT SPECIFIC TO ONE PARTICULAR INCIDENT, BUT TO THE GREATER TOPIC OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY.
JUST TO HIT A FEW THINGS, SO WE'RE GOING TO GO SOME UPDATES ON THINGS WE'RE DOING FOR SOFTWARE, JUST THAT WE ALL HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE WE ARE, RISK REDUCTION, PREPAREDNESS, ITEMS, COMMUNICATION.
WE'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A THOUGHT EXCHANGE THAT WE HAD OUR COMMUNITY PARTICIPATE IN, GO THROUGH THE FEEDBACK AND IDEAS THAT WERE SHARED THERE.
AND THEN WE'LL HAVE SOME CONVERSATIONS FOR THINGS THAT WE SHOULD POSSIBLY CONSIDER, GET FEEDBACK FROM THE BOARD, HAVE SOME DISCUSSION, AS WELL.
OF COURSE, WE ANCHOR THESE THINGS ON OUR VALUES AND THE SAFETY HAS TO BE THE NUMBER 1 THING.
WHEN PARENTS SEND THEIR KIDS TO OUR SCHOOLS, THEY ARE TRUSTING THAT THEY ARE GOING TO BE SAFE, AND WE HAVE TO WORK TO ENSURE THAT THAT'S THE CASE.
THAT SAFE ENVIRONMENT, LEARNING CANNOT HAPPEN IF KIDS DO NOT FEEL THAT THEY'RE SAFE AT SCHOOL, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO LEARN TO THEIR FULLEST POTENTIAL.
THEN, OF COURSE, TAKING CARE OF ALL OF OUR KIDS AND ALL OF OUR STAFF REMAINS TO BE IMPORTANT AS WELL.
THIS TIME I'M GOING TO HAVE OUR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND SCHOOL SAFETY.
HE'S GOING TO WALK US THROUGH SOME ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION.
>> GOOD EVENING, PRESIDENT WRIGHT, TRUSTEES, SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA.
THANK YOU COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM FOR BEING HERE. MY NAME IS ADAM MILLER.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT.
I'M GOING TO WALK YOU GUYS THROUGH, AS SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA SAID, JUST SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN PLACE, SOME OF THE THINGS ALSO THAT WE DO AS A DISTRICT IN TERMS OF SAFETY, AND THEN TALK ABOUT SOME COMMUNICATION POINTS AS WELL.
>> MR. RAYOS, I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT AS WELL, FEEL FREE TO CHIME IN AND ASK ANY QUESTIONS.
THERE'S A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT WE'RE GOING TO PRESENT.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT TO THE END, JUMP IN AND ASK QUESTIONS THROUGHOUT, PLEASE.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU, SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE USE DISTRICT WIDE.
WE HAVE RAPTOR ENTRY AT ALL CAMPUSES.
THAT IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY INDIVIDUAL THAT IS COMING TO THE CAMPUS HAS THE LEGAL ABILITY AND RIGHT TO BE THERE.
EVERY PERSON THAT COMES TO A LOCKHART ISD CAMPUS AND/OR MLC HAS TO HAVE A VALID TEXAS DRIVER'S LICENSE AND TO BE RAPTORED IN IN ORDER TO VISIT THAT CAMPUS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS AT THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES.
THAT IS OUR SILENT PANIC ALERT TECHNOLOGY, AND WHERE ALL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS WEAR A DURESS TRANSMITTER IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE NECESSARY PROTOCOLS, IF GOD FORBID, SOMETHING WERE TO HAPPEN.
ADDITIONALLY, AT THE SECONDARY CAMPUSES, WE HAVE RAPTOR EMERGENCY.
THAT IS AN APP BASED SYSTEM THAT IS ON EVERY ADMINISTRATOR AND TEACHER, COUNSELORS PHONE AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL.
IT SERVES A SIMILAR PURPOSE IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO CALL SAFETY PROTOCOLS IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
ADDITIONALLY, AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL, WE HAVE LIGHT SPEED ALERTS, WHICH ARE WHEN A STUDENT TYPES SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE INTO THEIR CHROMEBOOK, LOOKS UP SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATE IN GOOGLE SUITE.
IT IMMEDIATELY SENDS CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM AS WELL AS A DISTRICT SAFETY TEAM AN ALERT IN ORDER TO INVESTIGATE THAT.
THOSE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE SOFTWARE COMPONENTS THAT WE HAVE IN LOCKHART ISD.
>> I THINK WE MIGHT WANT TO DISCUSS THE AUDIO ENHANCEMENT AT THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, WHAT IT CONSISTS OF, HOW IT WORKS.
>> SURE. ABSOLUTELY. I'D BE HAPPY TO ANSWER THAT.
AUDIO ENHANCEMENTS IT'S TECHNICALLY TWOFOLD.
IT'S A GREAT PROGRAM THAT CAN ASSIST TEACHERS INSTRUCTIONALLY SPEAKING,
[00:15:01]
BUT THEN ALSO IT SERVES AS A SAFE ALERT DEVICE AS WELL.THE ACTUAL DURESS TRANSMITTER THAT I WAS SPEAKING OF FOR TEACHERS ON THE CAMPUSES, IT ALSO HAS A MICROPHONE BUILT INTO IT.
THE TECHNOLOGY WAS ORIGINALLY BUILT YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS AGO FOR THE FOUNDER OF THE COMPANY WHOSE CHILDREN WERE HARD OF HEARING.
THEREFORE, SHE WANTED TO DEVELOP SOMETHING THAT WOULD ALLOW TEACHERS TO AMPLIFY THEIR VOICES IN ORDER TO BETTER REACH THE KIDDOS IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THAT'S THE IMPETUS OF IT. THAT'S HOW IT STARTED.
HOWEVER, THEY QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THIS COULD ALSO BE A SAFETY MEASURE AS WELL.
WHAT THE COMPANY HAS DONE IS EMBEDDED SAFETY PROTOCOLS INTO THE SYSTEM.
THEREFORE, NOT ONLY DOES IT SERVE AS AN INSTRUCTIONAL TOOL, BUT IT ALSO SERVES AS A SAFETY TOOL BECAUSE ANYTIME A TEACHER FEELS THE NEED OR THERE'S SOMETHING SUSPICIOUS OR THERE'S A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO PRESS TWO BUTTONS ON THEIR DURESS TRANSMITTER, AND THAT IMMEDIATELY SETS OFF AN ALARM IN THE FRONT OFFICE OF EVERY CAMPUS THAT HAS THAT SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD BE ALL OF OUR ELEMENTARY AND THEN CARVER AS WELL.
THEN THE FRONT OFFICE IS NOTIFIED THAT THERE IS IN FACT AN ALERT, AND THEN CAMERAS GO OFF IN THAT PARTICULAR ROOM BECAUSE CAMERAS ARE ALSO TIED TO THE DURESS TRANSMITTER, ADMINISTRATORS CAN QUICKLY DETERMINE THE SOURCE OF THE EMERGENCY AND THE NECESSARY NEXT STEPS.
ADDITIONALLY, WHEN THE CAMPUSES GET THAT ALERT, CENTRAL OFFICE TEAM GETS IT AS WELL.
WE ARE GETTING THE ALERTS AT THE SAME TIME THAT THE ADMINISTRATORS ARE GETTING IT, AND EITHER MYSELF OR ONE OF THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM IS GETTING IN TOUCH IMMEDIATELY WITH THE CAMPUSES IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE NEXT STEPS.
YOU MIGHT WONDER, WE HAVE IT AT THE ELEMENTARY CAMPUS, WHY DON'T WE HAVE IT AT THE SECONDARY CAMPUS? WELL, IT'S A BUDGET CONSTRAINT.
IT'S A FAIRLY EXPENSIVE INSTALLATION AND WE HOPE TO AFFORD IT HERE SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.
>> WE DID A PILOT PROGRAM AT OUR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS GOING TO WORK IN THE WAYS THAT WE FELT IT POTENTIALLY COULD, WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WITH THAT TYPE OF INVESTMENT THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO WHAT WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, AND WE'RE HAVING SOME SUCCESS.
IT'S NOT PERFECT, BUT I THINK WE'RE HAVING SOME SUCCESS WITH IT.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT ANY OF OUR SECURITY SOFTWARE?
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE PHRASES THAT WE'LL GET CAUGHT IN THE LIGHT SPEED ALERTS?
>> TYPICALLY, THE MAJORITY OF THEM ARE INVOLVING SELF HARM.
KMS IS ONE THAT POPS UP QUITE A BIT.
TYPICALLY, THAT IS NOT A SUICIDAL IDEATION.
BUT HOWEVER, WE TAKE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THEM VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE LOOK INTO THEM.
OTHER ONES WILL BE LIKE, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU OR THERE WAS OCCASIONAL, A STUDENT WILL BE LOOKING UP GUNS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THAT'LL FLAG SOMETHING.
IN THE INCIDENT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, A STUDENT WAS DOING A GOOGLE SEARCH AND TRANSLATE FOR BOMB INFORMATION, BUT NOT MAKING A BOMB THREAT.
HE WAS LITERALLY TRANSLATING IT INTO ANOTHER LANGUAGE, BUT THAT IMMEDIATELY PICKED UP AS A POTENTIAL THREAT AS WELL.
TYPICALLY THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
IT CAN BE SOMETHING NOT SMALL, BUT IT COULD BE SOMETHING LIKE A FIGHT.
IT COULD POSSIBLY BE BREWING OR IT COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS OR IMMINENT, SUCH AS A DIRECT THREAT TO THE SCHOOLS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE LIGHT SUITE ALERT GOES OFF? DO Y'ALL DETERMINE, IS IT A COUNSELOR THAT NEEDS TO SEE THE STUDENT OR IS WHAT DETERMINE ONCE THAT GOES OFF, HOW IS IT DETERMINED ON WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE BECAUSE I KNOW A WIDE RANGE OF THINGS CAN SHOW UP LIKE IF IT'S A MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE VERSUS A THREAT ISSUE?
>> SURE. NO, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
AGAIN, THE ALERT COMES TO ALL CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS THAT INCLUDES COUNSELORS AS WELL AND THEN THE DISTRICT CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM.
AS SOON AS THAT ALERT COMES THROUGH, SOMEONE FROM THE CAMPUS LEVEL WILL IMMEDIATELY REPLY AND SAY, GOT IT.
THAT'S WHAT WE KNOW THAT SOMEONE IS TAKING THE LEAD ON IT.
IF WE DON'T HEAR SOMETHING FROM THEM IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN EITHER MYSELF OR ANOTHER CENTRAL OFFICE PERSON IN THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM WILL REACH OUT TO THAT CAMPUS AND SAY, HEY, HAVE YOU PICKED UP THIS ALERT? THEN THE CAMPUS DETERMINES THE APPROPRIATE PERSONNEL TO DEAL WITH IT AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME, WHETHER IT'S AN ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION OR A COUNSELING.
>> CAN YOU JUST FOR THE PUBLIC, CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM IS AND WHAT IT'S MADE UP OF?
>> SURE. THE CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM AT CENTRAL OFFICE IS MYSELF, SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA, DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT, DR. STEPHANIE CAMARIO,
[00:20:05]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MR. JAMES ACUNA, DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROGRAMS, DR. DALIA CRUZ FERNANDEZ, AND ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF CURRICULUM INSTRUCTURE, MR. T DAVIDSON, AS WELL AS OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY, MISS CASSIE SELINA.>> MR. MILLER, WHAT DOES THE VOLUNTEERISM LOOK LIKE WITH THE SECONDARY LEVEL WITH LINE GUARD? THE VOLUNTEERISM WITH THE COMMUNITY WITH LINE GUARD.
PRIMARILY WITH THE JUNIOR HIGH. WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?
>> SURE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE 17 LINE GUARD VOLUNTEERS IN THE DISTRICT, WHICH DOESN'T SOUND LIKE A LOT, BUT IT'S MORE THAN WE'VE HAD IN PREVIOUS YEARS.
A LARGE PART DUE TO THE WORK OF OUR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR, MR. CARL ADCOCK.
KNOW IF MR. ADCOCK IS HERE TONIGHT OR NOT.
HE SAID HE WAS GOING, THERE HE IS.
I KNEW YOU WERE COMING. WE HAVE 17 ACROSS ALL CAMPUSES.
IT DEPENDS ON THE DAY OR THE WEEK AS TO HOW MANY ARE SHOWING UP AT ANY PARTICULAR CAMPUS.
I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SPEND A GREAT DEAL OF TIME AFTER THE INCIDENT AT THE JUNIOR HIGH A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.
I SPENT THE NEXT FOLLOWING FIVE DAYS THERE.
THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE LINE GUARD REPRESENTATIVE EVERY DAY THAT WEEK.
IN THE CASE OF RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED, THERE WAS A COUPLE MORE.
THEN I KNOW THAT BLUE BONNET HAS A LOT OF LINE GUARD INVOLVEMENT.
OTHER CAMPUSES, IT COMES AND GOES, IT SEEMS TO BE, BUT WE'RE ACTIVELY ALWAYS RECRUITING AT THE JUNIOR HIGH FORUM, JUST A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, MR. ADCOCK WAS THERE, AS ALWAYS, AND WE HAD SEVERAL VOLUNTEERS FILL OUT THEIR VOLUNTEER BACKGROUND CHECK.
WE'RE HOPING TO DO SOME ONBOARDING AGAIN SOON AND JUST KEEP ON ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO COME OUT TO OUR CAMPUSES WHENEVER THEY CAN.
>> IT'S SPORADIC AND WE CAN ALWAYS USE MORE FROM THE COMMUNITY.
>> THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? THANK YOU ALL.
SOME OF THE UPDATES THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO DO THROUGH THE TEA SAFETY GRANT THAT WE WERE AWARDED LAST YEAR INVOLVE FENCING AT ALL CAMPUSES.
UPDATED RADIOS AT CERTAIN CAMPUSES, AND WE CONTINUINE TO GET MORE RADIOS, AND THEN SECURITY CAMERA REFRESH AND INSTALLATION DISTRICT WIDE AS WELL.
THAT IS ALLOWED TO INCREASE OUR ABILITY TO MONITOR AND TO KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE ON OUR ACTUAL SCHOOL GROUNDS. ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?
>> MAYBE DESCRIBE THE CRITERIA FOR FENCING. REMEMBER CORRECTLY?
>> YES, SIR. OUR FENCING, BASICALLY, WE HAVE TRANSITIONAL FENCING, WE HAVE PERIMETER FENCING.
THE TRANSITIONAL FENCING IS WHAT WE FOCUS PREDOMINANTLY ON AND THAT'S WHENEVER KIDDOS ARE TRAVELING FROM ONE PART OF THE BUILDING TO ANOTHER.
IN ORDER TO CREATE A SECURE AREA, IT'S TWOFOLD.
ONE, DOORS NEED TO BE LOCKED IN THOSE SECURE AREAS, SO LIKE FOR EXAMPLE, AT NAVARRO ELEMENTARY, WHERE THERE'S PORTABLES TOWARDS THE BACK, THERE'S ALSO THE GYMNASIUM, AND THEN THERE'S ALSO THE ANNEX.
THERE IS A PERIMETER FENCE THAT SURROUNDS THAT ENTIRE AREA THAT SURROUNDS THE BLACKTOP OF NAVARRO.
BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO BECAUSE STUDENTS DO TRANSITION FROM THE PORTABLES TO THE MAIN BUILDING.
BUT THEN ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS TRANSITIONAL FENCING THAT GOES FROM THE CAFETERIA TO THE GYM AND THE ANNEX.
NOW, WE STILL REQUIRE THOSE DOORS TO BE LOCKED.
ALTHOUGH WITH THE FENCE, THE GUIDELINES TECHNICALLY STATE THAT IT COULD BE CONSIDERED A SECURE AREA.
HOWEVER, WE WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND IN LOCKHART ISD TO MAKE SURE THAT WHERE OUR GATES ARE SECURE AND OUR FENCES AND OUR CLASSROOMS ARE SECURE.
IT'S THE SAME AT LIKE LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL WHERE THERE'S ALL THE PORTABLES TOWARDS THE BACK.
WE HAVE FENCING THAT SURROUNDS THE AREA IN ORDER TO KEEP THOSE TRANSITIONS SAFE, BUT WE STILL REQUIRE TEACHERS TO KEEP THOSE PORTABLE BUILDINGS LOCKED AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? OUR SAFETY AND SECURITY PERSONNEL.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE CONSTABLE AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR ELEMENTARY CAMPUSES, EITHER FROM PRECINCT 1 OR PRECINCT 4.
WE'RE VERY, VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
AS WELL AS CARVER AND PRIDE HIGH SCHOOL, LDMC.
THAT'S WHERE ALL OF OUR CONSTABLES ARE.
WE HAVE A DESIGNATED SRO FOR LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL. THAT'S OFFICER COSTA.
WE HAVE A DESIGNATED SRO FOR LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, THAT IS OFFICER VALDEZ, AND THEN SERGEANT AMELIO TORRES IS OUR SRO SUPERVISOR.
HE OPERATES OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL,
[00:25:01]
BUT HE IS ALL AROUND THE DISTRICT WHENEVER WE NEED HIM TO BE.WE HAVE THREE FULL TIME SROS AND WE HAVE A CONSTABLE AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS.
WE HAVE ARMED SECURITY AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT STUDENTS ARE IN OUR BUILDINGS.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE WORKED HARD OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS TO BUILD AND TO PUT INTO PLACE.
WE'RE JUST VERY PROUD OF THAT, AND WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE WITH THE MOMENTUM THAT WE HAVE FROM THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE MORE HALL MONITORS AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN STUDENT ADVOCATES AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL.
THEN BACK TO YOUR POINT EARLIER, TRUSTEE RAYOS, WE HAVE 17 LINE GUARD VOLUNTEERS CURRENTLY IN THE DISTRICT.
>> THERE'S BEEN SOME DIFFICULTY IN THE PAST HIRING SROS.
>> YES, SIR. THAT HAS BEEN MY UNDERSTANDING PRIOR TO ME TAKING ON THIS ROLE.
FORTUNATELY, BEFORE I CAME ON BOARD, OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, MR. JAMES ACUNA, WORKED VERY CLOSELY WITH LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND WE STARTED THIS YEAR FULLY STAFFED, AND WE CONTINUED TO DO SO.
AND WE CONTINUED TO KEEP STRENGTHENING THAT RELATIONSHIP WITH LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAS HELPED IS WE PROVIDE A $10,000 INCENTIVE BONUS TO HELP RECRUIT, AND THAT HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL IN RECRUITING AND GETTING THOSE THREE SPONSE FILLED, AND THEN ALSO RETAINING THEM.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, MR. SHAW.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR SECURITY PERSONNEL? CERTAINLY JUST WANT TO GIVE THEM A SHOUT OUT AND HIGHLIGHT.
THESE ARE JUST PICTURES OF ALL THE INDIVIDUALS THAT I JUST MENTIONED EARLIER.
BUT AGAIN, THEY'RE ON OUR CAMPUSES.
THEY'RE WORKING WITH OUR TEACHERS.
THEY'RE MEETING WITH THEIR PARENTS, THEY'RE INTERACTING WITH OUR KIDS, AND WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT PARTNERSHIP AND THAT COLLABORATION.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE OUR I LOVE YOU GUYS STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL.
THESE ARE THE DIFFERENT PROTOCOLS THAT WE REQUIRED BY STATE TO PRACTICE AND TO DRILL, BUT ALSO THE ONES THAT YOU RECEIVED THE NOTIFICATIONS ON.
WE HAVE A HOLD, WHICH STILL GETS CONFUSED FOR A LOCKDOWN MORE OFTEN THAN IT SHOULD.
A HOLD IS SIMPLY WE CLEAR THE HALLWAYS, BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE CLASSROOM.
THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME WE'RE CALLING A HOLD IS FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY AND WE'LL LOOK OVER SOME DATA A LITTLE BIT LATER.
BUT HOLDS ARE JUST FOR THE MOST PART, WHENEVER WE NEED TO CLEAR AN AREA, OFTENTIMES EMS IS COMING TO THE CAMPUS.
WE NEED TO GIVE THEM A CLEAR PATH TO THE CLINIC OR TO WHEREVER THE INDIVIDUAL WHO MIGHT BE IN MEDICAL DISTRESS MIGHT BE, AND WE ALSO WANT TO PROVIDE THEM THE DIGNITY THAT THEY DESERVE, SO THERE'S NOT A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE OR CHILDREN AROUND IN THE EVENT OF A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
THERE'S NO LIGHTS OFF, NOBODY'S HIDING IN CORNERS.
BUSINESS AS USUAL IN THE CLASSROOM, JUST WE HAVE TO CLEAR THE HALLWAYS.
AGAIN, DOORS ARE LOCKED, BUT DOORS ARE ALWAYS LOCKED IN LOCKHART ISD.
THAT WOULD BE THE CASE IF IT WASN'T A HOLD AS WELL.
HOLD IS THE PROTOCOL THAT WE GO INTO THE MOST FREQUENTLY.
IT'S ONLY REQUIRED THAT WE HAVE ONE WHOLE DRILL PER YEAR.
BUT AGAIN, WE SEE THOSE QUITE A BIT.
SECURE IS WHEN THERE'S AN ACTUAL THREAT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL.
OFTENTIMES, ALSO, LET ME BACKTRACK.
A HOLD CAN BE CALLED AT DIFFERENT TIMES WHERE WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE A SITUATION WHERE WE MIGHT HAVE GOTTEN A REPORT OR SOMETHING, AND WE NEED TO LOOK INTO IT.
WE JUST NEED EVERYBODY TO STAY PUT, STAY WHERE THEY'RE AT.
WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO LOCATE THE STUDENT OR LOCATE THE SITUATION OR TO MAKE A DETERMINATION ON OUR NEXT STEPS.
THAT'S SOME OF THE OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH WE'VE CALLED A HOLD.
BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM HAVE BEEN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES.
SECURE IS OFTENTIMES WHEN THERE'S A THREAT OUTSIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDING, AND WE NEED TO PUT THE CAMPUS ON SECURE AND THAT JUST BASICALLY MEANS THAT NO ONE'S COMING IN OR OUT OF THE CAMPUS AT THAT TIME.
WE'RE LOCKING THE EXTERIOR DOORS, WHICH AGAIN, THEY'RE ALREADY LOCKED.
BUT WE'RE JUST NOT ALLOWING ANYONE IN OR OUT UNTIL WE KNOW IT'S SAFE SURROUNDING THE SCHOOL.
OFTENTIMES THAT MAY LOOK LIKE SERGEANT TORRES PUTTING A CAMPUS ON SECURE BECAUSE LPD IS IN PURSUIT OF A SUSPECT IN THE AREA, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THEIR JOB AND TO KEEP EVERYONE SAFE IN THE PROCESS OF APPREHENDING THE SUSPECT.
THEN ONCE THE INDIVIDUAL IS OUT OF THE AREA OR APPREHENDED BY LAW ENFORCEMENT, THEN WE CAN LIFT THE SECURE.
COULD ALSO BE SOMETHING LIKE A RABID DOG ON THE PLAYGROUND OR WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDDOS STAY INSIDE UNTIL WE CAN GET ANIMAL CONTROL OVER THERE, AND I SAY RABBIT, I JUST MEAN DOG.
I SHOULDN'T HAVE SAID. BUT ANYTIME THAT WE JUST NEED TO KEEP
[00:30:05]
KIDDOS AND STAFF SAFE INSIDE THE BUILDING UNTIL WE CAN ADDRESS WHAT'S HAPPENING OUTSIDE.A LOCKDOWN IS WHEN THERE'S IMMEDIATE THREAT INSIDE THE BUILDING.
THAT OFTEN GETS CONFUSED WITH A HOLE IN THE SECURE.
BUT A LOCKDOWN IS THAT'S WHEN WE HAVE OUR LOCKS LIGHTS OUT OF SIGHT.
THAT'S WHEN STUDENTS ARE INSTRUCTED TO FIND A SAFE SPACE IN THE ROOM THAT IS NOT VISIBLE.
THAT IS WHEN THERE'S A DIRECT THREAT IN THE BUILDING AND STUDENTS ARE TO STAY IN LOCKDOWN UNTIL THAT THREAT HAS BEEN DETERMINED IS NO LONGER A THREAT.
WE ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO LOCKDOWN DRILLS PER YEAR, AND SOMETHING THAT WE'VE PUT INTO PLACE THIS YEAR, WHICH WE'RE ALSO VERY PROUD OF IS WE HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AT EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR LOCKDOWN DRILLS.
AGAIN, IT'S NOT LIKE A LIVE REENACTMENT.
I DON'T WANT ANYONE TO GET THE IMPRESSION THAT IT IS, BUT WE DO HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT THERE TO HELP GUIDE US TO HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT WAYS TO CONDUCT THE LOCKDOWN, AND THEN ALSO TO RELEASE THE LOCKDOWN.
IT'S MORE APPLICABLE TO WHAT IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN THE EVENT OF A REAL EMERGENCY.
>> DID YOU SAY YOU WERE GOING TO GO OVER DATA?
>> YES, MA'AM. WE'RE NOT GOING TO GO OVER SPECIFIC PROTOCOL DATA, BUT, WE DO HAVE SOME OTHER COMPONENTS HERE IN A LITTLE BIT.
EVACUATE IS WHEN WE NEED TO EVACUATE THE BUILDING.
WE'RE REQUIRED TO DO THOSE MONTHLY AT THE CAMPUSES, AND WE DO THAT.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT EVERYONE IS VERY FAMILIAR WITH, AND THEN A SHELTER IS ANYTIME THERE IS AN EMERGENCY OUTSIDE THE BUILDING SUCH AS A WEATHER EMERGENCY, A TORNADO, SOMETHING OF THAT EFFECT OR HASHMAT SITUATION.
WE NEED EVERYONE TO SEEK SHELTER UNTIL WE CAN GET THE HELP THAT WE NEED OR UNTIL THE STORM PASSES.
AGAIN, WE'RE REQUIRED TO HAVE TWO SHELTERS PER YEAR AND EVACUATE ONCE A MONTH, TWO LOCKDOWNS PER YEAR, ONE SECURE, AND ONE HOLD.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? EVERY ROOM IN LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, WE HAVE SAFETY TOOLS.
EVERY ROOM OR OFFICE IN OUR DISTRICT HAS EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PROCEDURES.
THAT'S THAT LITTLE FLIP CHART, THAT EOP FLIP CHART THAT YOU SEE IN THAT PICTURE.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A TURN IT IN EVERY SINGLE ROOM AS WELL.
THAT IS NOT REQUIRED BY THE STATE, BUT AGAIN, WE JUST WANT TO GO ABOVE AND BEYOND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THOSE TO STOP THE BLEED CONTROL KITS THAT WE HAVE AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS IS REQUIRED, AND WE DO HAVE THOSE AT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUSES.
WELL, ELEMENTARIES HAVE ONE, SECONDARY CAMPUSES HAVE MORE DEPENDING ON SIZE.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT, LET ME BACK UP.
>> THERE WE GO. SORRY ABOUT THAT.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SAFETY TOOLS BEFORE WE TRANSITION INTO RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS? WE WANT TO START. WHEN WE TALK ABOUT RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS, WE WANT TO START ON HOW WE ARE CREATING A CULTURE OF LEADERSHIP ON OUR CAMPUSES.
ONE WAY WE DO THAT IS THROUGH LEADER IN ME.
THAT IS A DISTRICT WIDE SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING PLATFORM THAT EVERY SINGLE CAMPUS IN THE DISTRICT USES, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT GOES BEYOND JUST SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING AND TRULY WORKS AT FOSTERING A POSITIVE SCHOOL CULTURE, EMPOWER STUDENTS WITH LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES ON THE CAMPUS.
AGAIN, IT PROACTIVELY ENHANCES CONFLICT RESOLUTION SKILLS.
AGAIN, IT STRENGTHENS STAFF AND STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS AS WELL, AND IT ENCOURAGES PROACTIVE BEHAVIOR AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT TEACHERS PROVIDE DAILY LESSONS ON.
IN LEADER IN ME ESPECIALLY AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
I KNOW IT BECOMES SLIGHTLY MORE DIFFICULT AT THE SECONDARY LEVELS, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING AS WELL.
WE HAVE LEADER IN ME ASSEMBLIES FOCUSING ON THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE, AND WE REALLY START TO ENCOURAGE OUR CHILDREN AT A VERY YOUNG AGE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO PRE-K TO EMPOWER THEMSELVES TO FIND THEIR LEADERSHIP POTENTIAL IN THEMSELVES AND TO UNLOCK THEIR POTENTIAL IN THAT RESPECT.
WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THIS PROGRAM.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE DISTRICT HAS ADOPTED IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO GAIN STEAM, AND WE'RE JUST EXCITED TO SEE HOW IT WILL CONTINUE TO EMPOWER OUR STUDENTS AND OUR TEACHERS.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A NUMBER OF THINGS WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT TONIGHT.
[00:35:04]
THOSE ARE ALL NECESSARY.WE HAVE TO ENSURE THAT WE'RE TAKING STEPS TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE AND WE KNOW HOW TO RESPOND IN SITUATIONS THAT REQUIRE A RESPONSE.
FIRST AND FOREMOST, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS IS RAISING GOOD YOUNG PEOPLE.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG PART OF WORKING WITH PARENTS ON.
PARENT CERTAINLY HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY AT HOME TO BE THE CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER.
THEN THE SCHOOL, WE MEET WITH THEM AND WE PARTNER AND THIS IS A BIG PART OF THE SKILL SET, KNOWLEDGE, AND DISPOSITIONS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO BUILD WITHIN OUR KIDS TO HELP THEM GROW UP TO BE GOOD HUMAN BEINGS AND GOOD PEOPLE.
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT LEADER IN ME? THE NEXT FEW SLIDES ARE GOING TO BE A BULLETED LIST OF OTHER RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS RESPONSES THAT WE HAVE AS A DISTRICT EITHER THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING OR WE'VE IMPLEMENTED THIS YEAR.
I'M GOING TO DISCUSS EACH ONE, BUT JUST LIKE SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA SAID EARLIER, PLEASE STOP ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, AND I'LL PAUSE AT THE END OF EACH SLIDE BECAUSE IT IS A PRETTY EXTENSIVE LIST, BUT WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DIDN'T MISS ANYTHING.
OBVIOUSLY, WE START WITH OUR CAMPUS SAFETY DRILLS THAT WE DISCUSSED EARLIER.
WE WENT THROUGH THOSE PRETTY IN DEEPLY.
ONE THING THAT WE DID IMPLEMENT THIS YEAR IS WE'VE STARTED CONDUCTING AFTER ACTION REVIEWS FOR EVERY SINGLE SAFETY DRILL THAT WE HAVE IN LOCKHART ISD TO DISCUSS WHAT WENT WELL, WHAT COULD HAVE GONE BETTER.
LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN TREMENDOUS HELP IN THAT AS WELL.
THEN WE ALSO HAVE AFTER ACTION REVIEWS IN THE EVENT OF REAL INSTANCES AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, JUST THE PRACTICE OF GOING THROUGH OUR DRILLS HAS GREATLY HELPED US WHENEVER WE DO HAVE AN ACTUAL INCIDENT THAT WE NEED TO DISCUSS AFTERWARDS.
WE HAVE THE LOCK IT LOCKHART CAMPAIGN, AND THAT IS JUST TO ENSURE THAT ALL OF OUR DOORS ARE LOCKED AT ALL TIMES, DIFFERENT SIGNAGE, MORE AGE APPROPRIATE, MORE CARTOONING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVEL, BUT THEN ALSO WE HAVE SIMILAR SIGNS AT THE SECONDARY CAMPUSES AS WELL, JUST AS ALWAYS A REMINDER TO LOCK DOORS AND NOT TO DISCOURAGE STUDENTS FROM OPENING DOORS FOR NOT ONLY OTHER STUDENTS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR ADULTS, EVEN IF IT'S MYSELF OR A CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR OR ANOTHER TEACHER.
WE HAVE BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND ANYTIME A STUDENT MAKES A THREAT AGAINST STUDENT SAFETY, THAT TEAM MEETS IN ORDER TO DISCUSS THAT.
THAT INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL, BUT THE INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE THROUGH THE BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT TRAINING, AND THEREFORE, WE SIT DOWN AS A TEAM TO DISCUSS THE SEVERITY OF THE THREAT AND THE NEXT STEPS MOVING FORWARD.
WE ALSO HAVE AN ANONYMOUS TIP LINE WHERE WE ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO MAKE REPORTS, ANYTIME THAT THEY SEE OR HEAR OF ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE SUSPICIOUS OR CONCERNING.
AS I'VE MENTIONED SEVERAL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE COURSE OF THIS PRESENTATION, BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH, WE CONTINUE TO STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT AND CALDWELL COUNTY CONSTABLES.
AGAIN, I SPEAK WITH SERGEANT TORRES ALMOST CONSISTENTLY AS I SPEAK WITH SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA.
THAT'S JUST HOW CONNECTED WE HAVE TO BE IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE ON THE SAME PAGE AND THAT WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING IN OUR POWER TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
ALL OF OUR OFFICERS ON ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES HAVE ATTENDED SCHOOL BASED LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING.
THAT IS THE STATE REQUIREMENT AS WELL.
THEN WE HAVE THEIR ANNUAL TEXAS STATE SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER CONFERENCE.
LAST YEAR, MYSELF, SERGEANT TORRES, AND MR. ACUNA WENT TOGETHER.
THIS YEAR, I'M VERY HAPPY THAT MYSELF AND ALL THREE SROS FROM THE DISTRICT AND FROM LPD ARE GOING TO BE ATTENDING THAT CONFERENCE TOGETHER.
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT BEFORE I MOVE ON?
>> HOW OFTEN I GUESS THEY GET RECOGNIZED ABOUT THE ANONYMOUS TIP LINE, OR THE COMMUNITY WHERE THEY KNOW WHAT IT IS.
EXPRESS THAT IN ADVERTISEMENT.
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION, TRUSTEE RAYOS. I DON'T KNOW.
IT'S CERTAINLY ON OUR WEBSITE AND ALL OF OUR CAMPUS ADMINISTRATORS KNOW ABOUT IT AND WE RECEIVE ALERTS PRETTY MUCH DAILY.
THE SEVERITY IS WE DON'T RECEIVE A WHOLE LOT OF SEVERE ALERTS DAILY, BUT WE DO RECEIVE THEM DAILY, BUT WE CAN ALWAYS DO A BETTER JOB OF MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE CAN ACCESS IT AND KNOW WHERE IT'S AT AND HOW TO FIND IT.
>> COULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS, HOW THEY TRAIN IN DIFFERENT CAMPUSES DURING OFF PERIODS? YOU HAD A CHANCE TO WITNESS THAT.
>> YES, SIR. ABSOLUTELY. THAT'S ON ANOTHER SLIDE.
NO. LET'S GO AHEAD AND KNOCK THAT ONE ALL THE WAY NOW BECAUSE THAT'S A GREAT POINT BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO HOST BOTH SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT,
[00:40:04]
CALDWELL COUNTY EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND LOCKHART POLICE DEPARTMENT AT PLUM CREEK, BLUE BONNET, LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH, LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, AND CARVER ELEMENTARY ALL THIS YEAR.THAT'S HAPPENED DURING EITHER LONG HOLIDAY WEEKENDS, OR DURING THANKSGIVING BREAK AS WELL.
AGAIN, WE JUST ENCOURAGE OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO REACH OUT TO US WHENEVER THEY WANT TO USE OUR CAMPUSES FOR THOSE TRAININGS, WE ALWAYS WELCOME IT.
IF FOR SOME REASON, THE PARTICULAR CAMPUS THAT THEY REQUEST IS BEING OCCUPIED FOR SOME OTHER REASON, WE'LL FIND THEM ANOTHER CAMPUS FOR SURE, BUT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT AGAIN, WE'RE VERY PROUD OF.
THE ONE THAT TOOK PLACE AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, THIS PAST, IT WAS FALL BREAK IS WHEN THAT TOOK PLACE, SUPERINTENDENT'S CABINET WAS ABLE TO ATTEND AS WELL AS SOME TRUSTEES AS WELL.
AGAIN, IT'S JUST SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE, AND IT HELPS STRENGTHEN OUR PARTNERSHIP AND OUR COMMUNITY AS WELL.
>> I THINK THE MORE THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT IS IN THE BUILDINGS, SHERIFF LANE HAS BEEN A BIG PROPONENT OF THIS IN HELPING ORGANIZE A LOT OF THESE MEETINGS.
CERTAINLY THANKFUL FOR HIS LEADERSHIP.
>> ABSOLUTELY. TO CONTINUE RISK REDUCTION PREPAREDNESS, SECURITY FILM ON ALL WINDOWS IN LOCKHART ISD.
AGAIN, THAT IS NOT A REQUIREMENT BY THE STATE OF TEXAS.
CURRENTLY, IT READS THAT EVERY EXTERIOR DOOR THAT HAS A WINDOW NEEDS TO HAVE FILM AND ANY WINDOWS THAT ARE ADJACENT TO SAID DOORS NEED TO HAVE A WINDOW FILM.
BUT AGAIN, AS A PROACTIVE MEASURE, THE DISTRICT HAS PUT WINDOW FILM ON PRACTICALLY EVERY SINGLE WINDOW THAT IS IN LOCKHART ISD.
EVEN ON OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION, THE ADDITION AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL.
MR. CHAPMAN AND OUR BOND CONSTRUCTION MANAGER MADE SURE THAT THAT WAS PART OF OUR NEW CONSTRUCTION AS WELL, ADDITIONALLY AT BORCHERT LOOP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AGAIN, THAT IS JUST AN EXTRA STEP THAT WE'RE TAKING HERE IN LOCKHART ISD.
AGAIN, WE HAVE FOREVER 15 FENTANYL AWARENESS AND PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS.
WE JUST HAD ONE AT THE GPAC A FEW WEEKS BACK.
WE HAVE ANOTHER ONE COMING UP, AND WE ALSO HAVE TEA DISTRICT VULNERABILITY ASSESSMENT THAT RECENTLY TOOK PLACE AS WELL.
WE HAVE MONTHLY INTRUDER DETECTION AUDITS WHERE SOMEONE FROM TEA, TEXAS STATE SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER OR REGION 13 WILL COME AND DO A DETECTION AUDIT IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CAMPUSES ARE LOCKED AND ARE SECURE.
WE'RE VERY GRATEFUL FOR THOSE BECAUSE THOSE HELP US LET US KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING RIGHT AND DIFFERENT WAYS THAT WE CAN IMPROVE.
WE HAVE OVERCROWDING ISSUES SPECIFICALLY AT OUR JUNIOR HIGH AND AT OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS SO WE HAVE BOND ELECTIONS IN ORDER TO ADDRESS THAT OVERCROWDING.
WE WERE SEEING GREAT OVERCROWDING AT THE ELEMENTARY LEVELS AND THE HIGH SCHOOL BACK IN 2022.
FORTUNATELY, THE COMMUNITY PASSED THAT BOND FOR US AND WHICH ALLOWED US TO BUILD THAT ADDITION AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL AND BORCHERT LOOP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
AS EVERYONE IN THE ROOM KNOWS, WE'RE ALSO GOING FOR A MAY BOND IN ORDER TO BUILD MIDDLE SCHOOL NUMBER 2 IF APPROVED BY VOTERS.
ADDITIONALLY, WE HAVE A WILD ROOTS AND LDMC PARTNERSHIP THAT WAS ACTUALLY PRESENTED AT OUR FEBRUARY BOARD MEETING. BLESS YOU.
IT'S A VERY PROACTIVE PARTNERSHIP, AND IT WAS VERY ENLIGHTENING PRESENTATION THAT WE RECEIVED BACK IN FEBRUARY, FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN HERE, ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO BACK AND WATCH THAT PRESENTATION BECAUSE IT REALLY HIGHLIGHTED WAYS IN WHICH WE'RE TAKING OUR STUDENTS THAT HAVE MADE SOME VERY UNFORTUNATE CHOICES, BUT WE'RE GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LEARN VALUABLE SKILLS AND GIVING THEM OPPORTUNITIES TO SEE VALUE IN THEMSELVES AND IN THEIR COMMUNITY.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'RE EXTREMELY PROUD OF AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE.
AGAIN, WE HAVE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PROCEDURES, WHICH WE DISCUSSED.
THEN WE HAVE TEA AND TEXAS STATE SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER RESOURCES AND PARTNERSHIP.
THE STATE HAS IMPLIED A LOT OF MANDATES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AND I WILL SAY THAT THEY HAVE BEEN VERY AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO PROVIDE SUPPORT WHENEVER NECESSARY.
WE'RE ALSO VERY GRATEFUL FOR THAT.
QUESTIONS BEFORE I MOVE ON TO THE NEXT SLIDE? CONTINUING ON WITH OTHER THINGS IN TERMS OF RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS, WE OBVIOUSLY HAVE OUR STUDENT CELL PHONE POLICY.
AS A REMINDER, STUDENTS AT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO HAVE CELL PHONES VISIBLE DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
THAT'S NOT VERY MUCH OF A PROBLEM AT THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LEVEL AT ALL.
AT THE JUNIOR HIGH, STUDENTS CAN HAVE CELL PHONES BEFORE SCHOOL STARTS AND AFTER SCHOOL, BUT THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED AT ALL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE POWERED DOWN AND PUT AWAY.
THEN AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, THEY'RE ALLOWED BEFORE SCHOOL,
[00:45:02]
AFTER SCHOOL, AND THEN AT LUNCH.AGAIN, SUPPOSED TO BE POWERED DOWN AND PUT AWAY FOR THE REST OF THE TIME.
>> I JUST THINK THAT THIS CELL PHONE ISSUE TALKING ABOUT THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN SOCIETY, THINGS THAT OUR KIDS ARE GROWING UP WITH.
THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE THAT I THINK IS LARGER JUST THAN A SCHOOL ISSUE.
I THINK IT'S A BROADER ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO WORK WITH OUR PARENTS ON BECAUSE WHEN WE SEE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING THAT KIDS ARE TALKING ABOUT, THAT KIDS ARE VIEWING, AND WE LOOK AT THESE DEVICES THAT WE'RE SO WILLINGLY, GIVING OUR CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS KINDERGARTEN AND 1ST GRADE, EVEN.
I THINK THAT THIS IS A HUGE PART OF THE ISSUES THAT WE'RE SEEING.
I REMEMBER GROWING UP AND HEARING PEOPLE WHO I THOUGHT WERE OLDER BLAMING THE MUSIC THAT WE WERE LISTENING TO AND THE NINTENDO GAMES AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
HERE I AM IN THIS POSITION AND WORKING WITH KIDS.
BUT I DO FEEL THAT IT IS A HUGE PART OF WHAT WE'RE SEEING WITH OUR KIDS.
THE THINGS THAT WE TRY TO PROTECT THEM IN THE REAL WORLD, BUT ARE UNDER PROTECTING KIDS, IN MY OPINION, IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD.
I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE A PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
WE LOOK AT BULLYING, WE LOOK AT MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR KIDS.
YOU LOOK AT KIDS WHO ARE ACTING OUT A LOT OF THE TIMES YOU CAN TRACE THAT BACK TO THEM BEING UNDER PROTECTED WITH THESE DEVICES THAT WE'RE GIVING OUR KIDS.
I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME, ONE OF THE WORST PARENTING MISTAKES I MADE WITH MY CHILDREN WAS GIVING MY SON A CELL PHONE IN 7TH GRADE.
I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE THING THAT ALL THE KIDS WERE GETTING CELL PHONES AND HE WAS PLAYING SPORTS AND HE NEEDED ONE FOR COMMUNICATION, ETC.
I LOOK BACK ON THAT AND I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THAT WAS THE RIGHT CALL.
I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF OTHER WAYS WE AS PARENTS CAN COMMUNICATE WITH OUR KIDS, FLIP PHONES, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, BUT ACCESS TO THE WORLDWIDE WEB AT THEIR FINGERTIPS AT ALL HOURS.
I THINK IS A BIG CONCERN THAT WARRANTS A FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ABSOLUTELY, ESPECIALLY THE BOWLING PART, THE SOCIAL MEDIA PART.
SOCIAL MEDIA IT'S SO EASY FOR KIDS JUST TO [INAUDIBLE] THAT.
MAYBE THIS IS PART OF THE CONVERSATION LATER, BUT THERE'S CONSEQUENCES WHEN STUDENTS GO IN AND MAKE A THREAT ONLINE.
IT'S A TERRORIST THREAT AND I DON'T KNOW IF WE'RE GOING TO GO OVER THAT.
I THINK JUST THE DANGERS OF NOT EVEN MAKING THE THREATS, JUST WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, WHAT THEY'RE CONSUMING, WHAT KIDS THINK IS NORMAL AND WHAT KIDS THINK IS REAL.
I THINK IS OFTENTIMES TAINTED BECAUSE OF THIS.
UNFORTUNATELY, YOU CAN EASILY MAKE A FAKE ACCOUNT ON SOMETHING AND BULLY SOMEONE AND NO ONE KNOWS WHO'S DOING IT.
BUT YOU HAVE KIDS WHO ARE DOING VERY MEAN THINGS AND THEY'RE HIDING IT BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE UP FAKE SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS AND SAY MEAN THINGS TO OTHER KIDS AND DO ALL THOSE THINGS.
BUT THE BIG PART IS EVEN BEFORE THAT, WHY ARE THEY DOING THAT? THEY'RE WATCHING YOUTUBE VIDEOS, THEY'RE WATCHING TIKTOK VIDEOS.
THEY'RE CONSTANTLY CONSUMING TRASH.
I THINK WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE WORK WITH PARENTS AND GET OUR KIDS TO AGE APPROPRIATE CONTENT AND EXPOSURE TO THINGS AND PROTECT THEM IN THE VIRTUAL WORLD, IN MY OPINION, MORE THAN WE PROTECT THEM IN THE REAL WORLD? I JUST THINK THAT THAT'S A BIGGER CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR PARENTS.
>> I'VE READ IT'S HARD WHERE PARENTS HAVE TO MONITOR THEIR KIDS CELL PHONE AS WELL AND IT'S A STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE STUDENT AND THE PARENT.
LET ME SEE WHAT'S GOING ON YOUR PHONE AND SO FORTH AND STUFF.
>> IT'S HARD WITH PARENTS, WANTING TO MONITOR THEIR KIDS PHONES,
[00:50:01]
WHAT'S OUT THERE BECAUSE AS PARENTS HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB AS WELL, MONITOR KIDS PHONES.LIKE YOU SAID, IT'S A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SCHOOL AND PARENTS.
>> I WOULD ARGUE TOO THAT THE MONITORING PIECE, I THINK IT'S WORTH A SHOT.
BUT KIDS ARE GOING TO GET AROUND WHATEVER WE THINK WE'RE KEEPING THEM FROM, THEY'RE GOING TO FIND WAYS TO GET AROUND THAT, UNFORTUNATELY.
PARENTS WORKING TOGETHER TO A LOT OF KIDS, A LOT OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE FRIEND GROUPS, AND WORKING TOGETHER TO POSTPONE THE DAY THAT THEY GET THEIR CHILD A CELL PHONE OR GET THEM A DIFFERENT TYPE, IF IT'S FOR COMMUNICATION ISSUES, FLIP PHONES WILL DO THE EXACT SAME THING, YOU CAN PICK UP THE PHONE AND CALL AND CHECK ON THE WHEREABOUTS OF YOUR CHILD, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
BUT I JUST THINK IT'S A WORTHWHILE CONVERSATION BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE RISK REDUCTION PART OF THIS.
WHAT ARE WE DOING UPSTREAM AND NOT WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO HAPPEN DOWNSTREAM AND CONSTANTLY BE ADDRESSING THAT.
LET'S GET UPSTREAM AND TRY TO ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSE.
I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ROOT CAUSES.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU ALL FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THAT CONVERSATION AT THE ROOT CAUSE.
TO CONTINUE, WE'VE INCREASED DRUG DOG VISITS THIS YEAR AS WELL.
WE'VE HAD 10 UP TO THIS POINT IN TIME, AS WELL AS STUDENT IDS AT THE SECONDARY LEVELS, GUN SAFETY INFO FOR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS A THREAT REGRET VIDEO THAT WE MADE. I'M SORRY, MR. CHARLES YES.
>> OF THOSE 10 DRUG DOG VISITS, HOW MANY TIMES DID THEY HIT?
>> DO WE KNOW WHAT I GUESS DRUG THEY'RE PICKING UP MOSTLY?
>> THEY WERE ALL VAPES, ALL THC VAPES.
>> GOOD QUESTION. WE CREATED A THREAT REGRET VIDEO RIGHT BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS AND WE RELEASED IT WHEN WE CAME BACK FROM WINTER BREAK, JUST EXPRESSING THE SEVERITY OF MAKING THREATS AND THE CONSEQUENCES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
SEVERAL OF THE ADMINISTRATORS IN THIS ROOM PARTICIPATED IN THAT, AS WELL AS SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA AND ALL OF OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL.
WE EVEN HAD STUDENTS INVOLVED WITH THAT TOO AND WE WERE ABLE TO DO THAT STUDIO THREE ONE AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL.
ADDITIONALLY, WE NOW HAVE A SAFETY AND SECURITY PAGE ON OUR WEBSITE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS NEW THIS YEAR.
TO PRESIDENT WRIGHT'S POINT, WE'VE HAD SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAININGS AT LSD CAMPUSES, AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS AS LONG AS THEY NEED IT AND THEY REACH OUT.
WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THAT.
INCREASED HALL MONITORS AND STUDENT ADVOCATES THAT ARE SECONDARY CAMPUSES, AND THEN AS WE ALL KNOW, WE RECENTLY IMPLEMENTED CLEAR BACKPACKS AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS, GOING BACK TO THE THREAT REGRET VIDEO.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT BETTER WAY.
WE'VE SENT THAT VIDEO HOW MANY TIMES NOW?
>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT AT LEAST SIX OR SEVEN TIMES SINCE JANUARY.
>> LIKE IT'S GONE OUT NUMBER OF TIMES.
I JUST LOOK BECAUSE I WAS CURIOUS AND THERE'S BEEN 412 VIEWS OF THAT VIDEO.
I PROBABLY WATCHED IT 50 TIMES, JUST GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT IT.
MAYBE I'M EXAGGERATING A LITTLE BIT, BUT HOW CAN WE BETTER GET THAT MESSAGE OUT THERE? BECAUSE SENDING IT THROUGH THE LETTER, SENDING IT THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE AND LINES LIST, SENDING IT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA HAS ONLY HAD 400 PEOPLE, AND I WOULD THINK SOME OF OUR STAFF MAYBE WATCH THAT.
WE JUST HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE GET BETTER ENGAGEMENT BECAUSE THAT VIDEO REALLY DETAILS THE IMPORTANCE OF THESE THREATS AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND I ACTUALLY THINK IT MAY HAVE BEEN A PARENTS IDEA BECAUSE OF A NEIGHBORING DISTRICT THAT WE DID IT.
BUT YET WITH ALMOST 7,000 STUDENTS, AND WE'VE SENT IT OUT MULTIPLE TIMES REPEATEDLY THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT CHANNELS, BUT NO ONE'S WATCHING IT.
WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE GET PEOPLE TO ACTUALLY WATCH OR READ THE THINGS THAT WE'RE PUTTING OUT?
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT, MR. ESTRADA.
SPEAKING OF THE TERMS THAT WE'VE SENT IT RECENTLY, WE'VE JUST EMBEDDED IT INTO THE LETTERS THAT WE SEND THAT ANYTIME A STUDENT MAKES A THREAT, WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO WATCH IT AS WELL.
BUT AGAIN, IT HAS BEEN SENT THROUGH THE LINE LIST AND SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER AVENUES AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE CONTINUE TO MOVE ON?
>> I JUST WANTED TO MENTION ONE MORE THING. I APOLOGIZE.
[00:55:02]
THAT'S SOMETHING I'VE TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF PARENTS ABOUT RECENTLY.AGAIN, IT'S JUST NO ONE THINKS THAT IT'S GOING TO SOLVE, IT MAKES US 100% SAFE, BUT IT'S JUST REALLY TRYING TO HAVE MULTIPLE STRATEGIES TO REDUCE THE RISK OF SOMETHING GETTING ON CAMPUS THAT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE THERE.
WE ACKNOWLEDGE AND KNOW THAT THERE ARE WAYS TO GET AROUND THAT, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT RISK REDUCTIONS WE DO, WE CAN CREATE A SCENARIO THAT CAN GET AROUND IT.
IT'S JUST HOW DO WE HAVE LAYERED LEVELS OF SUPPORT TO TRY TO REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF RISK.
>> I'LL AGREE WITH THE BACKPACKS.
I MEAN, I'VE GOT A DAUGHTER IN THE JUNIOR HIGH.
SHE WAS NOT EXCITED TO DO A CLEAR BACKPACK WHATSOEVER.
SHE ENDED UP GETTING KIND OF A PINK ONE, WHICH SHE ACTUALLY LIKES. THAT'S GOOD.
BUT I'LL AGREE THAT IF IT PREVENTS ONE KID FROM BRINGING SOMETHING INTO THE SCHOOL, THEN IT'S WORTH IT.
I MEAN, MY DAUGHTER CANNOT LIKE IT. THAT'S FINE.
SHE'S GOT ATHLETICS AND GOT EVERYTHING ELSE THAT SHE'S BRINGING IN THAT BACKPACK STUFF.
YES, COULD SHE HIDE SOMETHING IN THERE? SHE COULD.
BUT IF IT'S A DETERRENT IN MY OPINION, IF IT'S A DETERRENT TO ONE KID THAT PREVENTS ONE INCIDENT HAPPENING, IT'S WORTH IT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT.
IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THOSE OTHER RISK REDUCTION AND PREPAREDNESS THINGS THAT WE HAVE PUT IN PLACE AS A DISTRICT IN PREVIOUS YEARS AND IN THIS YEAR.
WE'VE ALSO HELD FORUMS AND PRESENTATIONS WHERE WE WELCOME THE COMMUNITY TO COME AND HEAR AND LEARN AND PROVIDE US FEEDBACK AND TO HAVE OPEN CONVERSATIONS.
WE HAD TWO ABCS OF SCHOOL SAFETY FORUMS. ONE WAS IN LATE SEPTEMBER AND ANOTHER ONE WAS THE FOLLOWING WEEK IN EARLY OCTOBER.
ONE WAS HELD AT THE GOPAC, ANOTHER ONE WAS HELD AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
WE WENT OVER A LOT OF THE SAME INFORMATION THAT WE'RE GOING OVER TODAY, BUT IT WAS BASICALLY JUST A GENERAL OVERVIEW OF SCHOOL SAFETY IN LOCKHART ISD, AND THEN AN OPPORTUNITY REALLY FOR PARENTS TO ASK QUESTIONS.
IN ADDITION TO THE ABC'S FORUMS, SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA HOLDS FAMILY FEEDBACK FORUMS STRATEGICALLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AFTER EVERY NINE WEEKS.
WE'VE ALREADY HAD TWO THUS FAR, AND WE'VE GOT ANOTHER ONE COMING UP IN APRIL AND THEN ANOTHER IN MAY.
THEN IN ADDITION TO DISTRICT FORUMS, CAMPUSES ALSO HOLD THEIR OWN FAMILY FEEDBACK FORUMS. YOUR CAMPUS SHOULD BE REACHING OUT.
I THINK PLUM CREEK HAD THEIRS THIS WEEK AS A MATTER OF FACT.
LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL HAD ONE MAYBE TODAY.
EVERY CAMPUS IS HOLDING THOSE FORUMS IN ADDITION TO THE DISTRICT FORUMS AS WELL.
>> MR. MILLER ON THE DISTRICT FORUMS, YOU BE AN AVERAGE ON HOW MANY PARENTS OR MEMBERS?
>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION, MR. RAYOS.
>> NOW, WHEN SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA HELD THIS FIRST ONE OF THE FIRST FORMS LAST SPRING, THERE WAS A MUCH LARGER TURNOUT.
THERE WAS PROBABLY 20-30, IF NOT MORE.
BUT THE FORMS THAT WE'VE HELD IN THE SUMMERTIME AND THE FALL AND BACK IN FEBRUARY, BECAUSE WE DID HAVE TO CHANGE THAT DATE.
I THINK AROUND EIGHT PEOPLE GIVE OR TAKE.
>> WE HAVE QUARTERLY AND FORUMS FOR THESE PARENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS, CORRECT?
>> THANK YOU. THANK THE JUNIOR HIGH FORUM MAY HAVE BEEN OUR LARGEST GROUP.
WELL OVER 30, MAYBE 35, PROBABLY.
>> I HAVE SEEN FEEDBACK THAT A COUPLE OF PARENTS WERE WANTING THEM MAYBE ON A WEEKEND LIKE A SATURDAY OR SUNDAY WORK AND IT'S JUST HARD TO GET THERE AFTER.
I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WOULD HELP INCREASE OR NOT, BUT THAT'S JUST THE FEEDBACK.
>> IT COULD, I HAVEN'T HAD THAT FEEDBACK, BUT I'M SURE.
>> THOSE FORMS INITIALLY WERE BASED ON COMMUNICATION OR LACK OF.
>> THE ONE GOING BACK THE ABC FORUM IN OCTOBER, AND I'LL GET TO THIS IN SECOND CAME FROM THE JUNIOR HIGH INCIDENT AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.
FORGET THE EXACT DATE, MAYBE 24TH.
>> TWENTY FIFTH. THAT WAS ON THE HEELS OF THAT INCIDENT THAT WE HAD THAT CAUSED A HUGE ALARM ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD SOME GOING BACK TO LAST YEAR AFTER AN INCIDENT IN LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL.
BUT WE'VE ALSO HAD FORMS BEFORE THAT,
[01:00:03]
AND WE'VE CONTINUED TO ADD ON TO OUR STAFF FORUMS, PARENT FORUMS, ETC, BUT LIKE MR. MILLER SAID, WE HAVE SINGLE DIGITS.>> I WAS JUST SAYING IF THE COMMUNICATION IS GOOD AND THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION STAY OPEN, THEN I WOULD HOPE THEORETICALLY WE WOULD SEE FEWER PEOPLE.
THEY FEEL LIKE THEY'RE BEING HEARD MAYBE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THE CAMPUS LEVEL FIRST, OR EVEN IN THE CLASSROOM LEVEL.
I MEAN, THAT'S THE WAY I VIEW IT.
HOPEFULLY. WE'VE GOT THOSE LINES OF COMMUNICATION OPEN.
>> I'VE HAD SOME FEEDBACK BECAUSE WE STARTED HAVING CAMPUS, SO WE HAD PARENTS WHO TOLD US WE'D LIKE TO HAVE THESE AT THE CAMPUS AS WELL TO DISCUSS CAMPUS SPECIFIC THINGS.
THEN OUR CAMPUS FORUMS, OUR PRINCIPALS, WHAT'S THE AVERAGE AT OF CAMPUS FORUM? MAYBE SINGLE DIGITS AT THE CAMPUSES AS WELL, BUT THAT WAS WHAT OUR PARENTS ACTUALLY GAVE ME THAT FEEDBACK AND SAID THAT'S GREAT.
IF IT WOULD MAKE YOU FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE TO JUST SPEAK SPECIFIC TO YOUR CAMPUS, WE CAN DO THAT AND WE'VE HAD AND SOUNDS LIKE SINGLE DIGITS.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS CONCERNS ABOUT FORUMS?
>> ABOUT FORUMS. I JUST WANTED TO ASK MR. ESTRADA ABOUT THE REGRET.
WHAT FORMAT IS IT IN? IF I WANTED TO WATCH IT RIGHT NOW, CAN I ACCESS?
>> IT'S ON YOUTUBE. AS LONG AS YOU HAVE INTERNET, YOU COULD WATCH IT AND IT HAS SPANISH SUBTITLES AS WELL AND THERE ARE A FEW REALLY IMPORTANT PIECES WHERE IT'S GIVEN IN SPANISH.
>> I WANTED TO BRING THAT UP IN THIS MEETING BECAUSE THAT WAY, MAYBE IT'LL REACH MORE PEOPLE MORE THAN 400,000 VIEWS.
>> IT'S ON THE LOCKHART ISD YOUTUBE PAGE.
>> IT DOES NOT HAVE SPANISH SUBTITLES, MR. ESTRADA, JUST TO CLARIFY.
>> WE HAVE SPANISH AND THEN WE HAD SPANISH COMPONENTS.
>> MOVING ON TO COMMUNICATION, WHICH IS WHAT VICE PRESIDENT GIDEN WAS JUST DISCUSSING AS WELL.
OBVIOUSLY, OUR COMMUNICATION CHANNELS HERE IN THE DISTRICT, ARE PARENT SQUARE.
THAT'S WHERE WE SEND OUR EMAILS, TEXTS IN THE APP, AND THEN SOCIAL MEDIA AS WELL, FACEBOOK, X AND INSTAGRAM.
X AND INSTAGRAM OR MORE FOR THE FUN STUFF, THE CELEBRATORY POSTS.
FACEBOOK IS VERY CELEBRATORY AS WELL, BUT THAT'S WHERE ESPECIALLY WHENEVER WE'RE HAVING A HOLD.
WHENEVER THERE'S EMERGENCY VEHICLES GOING TO A CAMPUS, WE SEND THOSE OUT VIA PARENT SQUARE AND ON FACEBOOK, JUST BECAUSE SOMETIMES PEOPLE WILL SEE FACEBOOK BEFORE THEY MIGHT SEE THEIR EMAIL OR THEIR TEXT.
THAT WAY WE JUST KNOW, AND ALSO SAY A PARENT DOESN'T HAVE ANY STUDENT AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, BUT THEY SEE AN AMBULANCE RUSHING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL AND THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE WANT TO ASSURE THEM THAT IT IS NOT A THREAT AGAINST A MEDICAL EMERGENCY MOST OF THE TIME.
WE DO COMMUNICATE THAT VIA FACEBOOK, BUT PARENT SQUARE IS WHERE WE SEND ALL OF OUR CRISIS COMMUNICATION UPDATES, AS CAMPUSES USE IT, AND THEN THE LION LIST AND OTHER DISTRICT COMMUNICATION.
THAT GOES TO EVERY PARENTS EMAIL, TEXT, AND THROUGH THE APP.
AGAIN, WE'RE ALWAYS STRIVING TO PROVIDE ACCURATE, TIMELY, AND FREQUENT COMMUNICATION.
WE WANT TO OPERATE AS OUR OWN NEWS ROOM.
WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO HEAR IT FROM US BEFORE WE HEAR IT FROM ANYONE ELSE.
THERE ARE TIMES WHERE THE RESPONSE HASN'T BEEN AS PROMPT AS MAYBE IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO WORK ON AND ADDRESS AND ACKNOWLEDGE.
BUT THAT IS OUR GOAL AT ALL TIMES IS TO BE AS ACCURATE, TIMELY, AND FREQUENT AS POSSIBLE.
SOMETHING THAT WE STARTED DOING THIS YEAR.
WE'RE USING EXPLICIT AND VERBATIM LANGUAGE IN OUR COMMUNICATION IS TO ENHANCE TRANSPARENCY.
MEANING WHENEVER WE IN YEARS PAST, IF A THREAT WAS MADE ON A CAMPUS, THE COMMUNICATION MIGHT SOUND SOMETHING LIKE A THREAT WAS MADE TODAY AT BLUE BONNETT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SAFE, THE APPROPRIATE CONSEQUENCES, ETC.
BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE THIS YEAR, AND THAT'S A PER SUPERINTENDENT STRATUS DIRECTIVE IS WE'RE BEING VERY EXPLICIT, EXACTLY WHAT THAT STUDENT SAID, EITHER TO THE OTHER STUDENT OR TO THE TEACHER, WE'RE WRITING IT OUT THERE.
NO ONE CAN THINK THAT WE'RE NOT BEING AS TRUTHFUL AS WE JUST NOT BEING TRUTHFUL PERIOD.
IT WILL SAY, I'M GOING TO BRING A GUN TO SCHOOL AND SHOOT YOU TOMORROW.
MOST OF THE TIME, THOSE THREATS HAVE NOT BEEN WELL, THEY'RE ALWAYS SERIOUS, BUT THEY HAVE NOT BEEN VALID.
HOWEVER, WE WANT OUR COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE'RE NOT HIDING ANYTHING IN THAT RESPECT.
WE ARE BEING VERY EXPLICIT IN THE LANGUAGE THAT WE USE IN THOSE COMMUNICATIONS.
[01:05:05]
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT?>> I WAS JUST GOING I'M SURE I DON'T WANT TO ASSUME, BUT CANNOT LET THE LIKE THE OUTCOME IS CORRECT.
>> YES. WE CAN SAY THE APPROPRIATE CONSEQUENCES HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED BECAUSE THE DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS FALLS UNDER FRPA, AND WE CAN'T VIOLATE THAT.
NOW, IF A STUDENT IS TAKEN INTO POLICE CUSTODY, WE CAN SAY THAT AND WE DO WHENEVER IT HAPPENS.
HOWEVER, JUST LIKE WITH OUR DISCIPLINARY CONSEQUENCES, WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT WHAT LPD OR WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THAT'S WHY IN TERMS OF A STUDENT OR A STAFF MEMBER WITH A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, PEOPLE'S RIGHTS ARE PROTECTED.
YES, THAT'S A GREAT POINT. THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.
>> I HAD SOMETHING TO ADD TO THAT.
CAN WE TELL THE PUBLIC WHAT A CONSEQUENCE WOULD LOOK LIKE FOR A CERTAIN THING? NO PARTICULAR PERSON OR STUDENT, BUT LIKE PERSON MAKES A BOMB THREAT AT A HIGH SCHOOL.
WHAT IS THE CONSEQUENCE OF THAT?
>> ANY TYPE OF A THREAT LIKE THAT IS CONSIDERED A MANDATORY PLACEMENT IS CONSIDERED A TERRORISTIC THREAT AND THAT WOULD BE A MANDATORY PLACEMENT IN A DISTRICT ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PLACEMENT CENTER OR LDMC DAP.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT PER STATE LAW ARE MANDATORY PLACEMENTS, AND THAT WOULD BE AN ASSAULT OR DRUGS ON A CAMPUS, FIREARM ON A CAMPUS, AND THAT COULD ALSO RESULT IN EXPULSION.
WE WON'T EVER DIVULGE THE STUDENT'S NAME, IDENTITY, AGE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
BUT THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THOSE ARE MANDATORY PLACEMENTS.
>> I'LL JUST ADD THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ALSO HAS THEIR OWN.
>> YES, MA'AM. THAT IS CORRECT.
>> IT GOES FURTHER THAN CONSEQUENCES..
>> CORRECT. THERE ARE SCHOOL CONSEQUENCES ASSIGNED TO SOMEONE WHO MIGHT HAVE DRUGS ON CAMPUS, AND THEN THERE ARE CRIMINAL CHARGES THAT GO ALONG WITH THAT.
>> IN SAME PRIVACY, WE'VE HAD PARENTS AND EVEN STAFF MEMBERS TELL ME WHEN IN FLORIDA, THEY PUT THE PICTURE OF THE KID AND THE PARENTS.
FLORIDA HAS A DIFFERENT LAW WHERE THEY CAN DO THAT. WE'VE LOOKED IT UP.
ACTUALLY, BOTH THE SHERIFF LANE AND CHIEF WILLIAMS HAS LOOKED THAT UP AND WE CANNOT DO THAT PER TEXAS LAW, OR THEY CANNOT DO THAT.
>> AGAIN, AS WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNICATION, I HOPE THIS MESSAGE HAS BEEN DRIVEN HOME, BUT I WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
WE'RE ALL ABOUT BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR COMMUNITY ENTITIES IN ORDER TO BENEFIT OUR STUDENTS AND STAFF.
WE CERTAINLY KNOW THAT THE FOUNDATION OF ANY HEALTHY PARTNERSHIP IS TRUST, AND THE COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT WORKS VERY TIRELESSLY TO BUILD AND STRENGTHEN THAT TRUST EACH AND EVERY DAY.
WE CAN ALWAYS IMPROVE AND WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO.
BUT THAT IS ALWAYS OUR FOCUS AND OUR GOAL.
TO DATE, AND I SAY, I UPDATED THIS SLIDE AROUND 330 THIS AFTERNOON BECAUSE WE HAD A HOLD AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WE HAVE SENT 92 TOTAL MESSAGES REGARDING SAFETY IN 2024, 2025.
OF THOSE 92 MESSAGES THAT HAVE BEEN SENT OUT 79 OR CAMPUS SPECIFIC, MEANING A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, A THREAT, WEAPONS, PROHIBITED ITEM, DRUG DOGS, OR DRILL NOTIFICATIONS.
THEN 13 OF THOSE COMMUNICATIONS HAVE BEEN LETTERS TO THE COMMUNITY, UPDATES, LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAININGS, TRANSPORTATION ISSUES THAT IMPACT SAFETY, INCLEMENT WEATHER, OR SCHOOL SAFETY SURVEYS.
AGAIN, THIS IS JUST OUR SAFETY COMMUNICATION, 92 TOTAL MESSAGES TO [OVERLAPPING]
>> ALSO, THESE ARE MR. MILLER LED WITH WE WANT TO COMMUNICATE FIRST.
WE DON'T WANT TO BE RESPONDING TO THINGS.
WE KNOW THAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS QUICK.
I CAN TELL YOU AS SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR OVER A DECADE, I'VE BEEN ON A PRINCIPAL AT MULTIPLE CAMPUSES.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS DISTRICT FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND WE COMMUNICATE MUCH MORE THAN WE EVER HAD.
BUT IT'S BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO.
OUR PARENTS, OUR COMMUNITY, THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.
WE HAVE AMPED UP OUR COMMUNICATION.
THERE ARE THINGS THAT MAY COME OUT THAT PROBABLY 10 YEARS AGO.
PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SAID WE DON'T NEED TO CAUSE AN ALARM, IT'S NOT SERIOUS.
[01:10:02]
EVERY TIME A KID SAYS SOMETHING THAT THEY SHOULDN'T THAT WE KNOW ABOUT, WE FIND OUT WE REPORT IT BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE A COMMITMENT TO OUR PARENTS TO BE TRANSPARENT TO TELL THEM, AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY, SOMETIMES YOU'RE SHARING TOO MUCH.THAT IS NOT OUR DECISION TO JUDGE.
WE HAVE TO GIVE THE INFORMATION TO OUR PARENTS AND OUR PARENTS WILL MAKE THEIR INTERPRETATIONS OF THAT INFORMATION.
BUT I WANT THE COMMUNITY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE LITERALLY SHARING EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS THAT IS A SAFETY CONCERN.
BECAUSE WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE TO.
I KNOW THAT, IT SEEMS LIKE WE ARE COMMUNICATING MORE OFTEN BECAUSE WE ARE.
BECAUSE WE DO MORE THAN PROBABLY ANY DISTRICT IN THE STATE BECAUSE OUR THRESHOLD TO COMMUNICATE TO PARENTS IS MUCH LOWER THAN MOST PEOPLE.
MAYBE THAT'S RIGHT OR WRONG BUT WE STILL FEEL THAT WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE BECAUSE WE DO NOT WANT OUR PARENTS HEARING FROM A NEIGHBOR THAT SOMETHING THAT THEIR KID HEARD AND THEY'RE LIKE, WHY DIDN'T THE SCHOOL TELL US THAT? WE JUST FEEL THAT WE NEED TO TELL THEM FIRST AND GET THAT COMMUNICATION OUT THERE.
THAT'S WHAT WE'VE DONE THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS FOR SURE.
>> WELL, I THINK IT'S VERY GOOD BECAUSE MY KIDS HAVE COME HOME AND TOLD A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY FROM THE INFORMATION THAT WE'VE GOTTEN.
I HAVE READ THEM SOMETIMES THE TEXT FROM THE PHONE.
LOOK, AND THIS IS WHAT WAS SAID AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THEN WHEN I GO TO FACEBOOK, I'M AN ADULT SO I CAN GO TO FACEBOOK.
THEY ARE KIDS THEY'RE STILL DEVELOPING. WE'VE GOT TO PROTECT THEM.
>> WHEN I GET ON FACEBOOK, A LOT OF WHAT MY KIDS HAVE SAID LINES UP WITH WHAT PEOPLE ARE POSTING.
I START TO WONDER, ARE PEOPLE TAKING WHAT THEIR KIDS FOR SAY AS VERBATIM, NOT GETTING THE INFORMATION FROM THE DISTRICT OR NOT PAYING ATTENTION TO IT.
I'M LIKE THAT'S THE SAME THING THAT MY KIDS CAME HOME AND SAID AND I KNOW IT'S NOT TRUE.
SOMETIMES I JUST THINK THAT'S THE WAY A LOT OF MISINFORMATION IS SPREAD LIKE.
I'M ON ALL THESE THINGS, THE PARENTS SQUARE, THE TEXT, THE LINE LIST.
WE GET IT SEVERAL TIMES EMAIL, MY WORK EMAIL, MY HOME EMAIL.
THAT INFORMATION IS THERE FOR PEOPLE THAT WANT IT.
MY GIRLS DON'T MEAN ANY HARM, BUT THEY JUST COME HOME AND THEY'VE TALKED TO FRIENDS AND THAT'S GONE AROUND THIS WAY AT SCHOOL, AND THEY COME HOME WITH A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT STORY.
>> I'LL AGREE. FINAL ARGUE WITH ME.
NO, YOU DON'T KNOW REALLY WHAT HAPPENED.
>> WE'VE HEARD TONIGHT FROM THE PUBLIC THAT MAYBE THESE COMMUNICATIONS AREN'T AS RAPID AS THEY COULD BE.
IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT SOMETIMES OR IS THAT A VALID COMMENT OR HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> YES. THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAIN INSTANCES WHERE WE ARE STILL INVESTIGATING A SITUATION AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEND INACCURATE INFORMATION.
THEREFORE, THE RESPONSE MIGHT BE SLIGHTLY MORE DELAYED THAN THE NORMAL JUST BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE OUR FACTS STRAIGHT BEFORE WE SAY SOMETHING THAT'S NOT ACCURATE OR TRUTHFUL.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE LION'S SHARE OF THE TIME, IS WITHIN A MATTER OF MINUTES, AND THERE HAVE BEEN CERTAIN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER DIFFERENT ONCE OR TWICE, WHERE POSSIBLY I HAPPEN TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE I AM NOT ABLE TO SEND SOMETHING DIRECTLY AT THAT TIME.
THEN THEREFORE, IT HAS TO BE SLIGHTLY DELAYED ALTHOUGH WE'VE WORKED AS A TEAM TO CONTINUE TO REFINE THAT PROCESS IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE GETTING FASTER AND BETTER ALL THE TIME.
BUT THOSE INCIDENTS HAVE TRULY BEEN ISOLATED IN JUST A COUPLE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
MOST OF THE TIME IT'S BECAUSE WE'RE INVESTIGATING A SITUATION AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL THE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS WE POSSIBLY CAN HAVE IN ORDER TO GIVE OUR COMMUNITY AN ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF WHAT IS GOING ON.
>> I MIGHT TELL THE PUBLIC THAT WE AS A BOARD GET THESE COMMUNICATIONS FROM MR. MILLER FROM MR. ESTRADA ABOUT ANYTIME AN INCIDENT OCCURS, THEY LET US KNOW AND GIVE US AS MUCH DETAIL AS THEY CAN.
REGARDING PRIVACY IS STILL ALWAYS A BIG CONCERN, BUT SO WHENEVER MR. GIDEON GETS, OTHERWISE, HE'S ALSO GETTING THESE COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE DISTRICT ALL THE TIME TOO.
WE ARE AWARE WHAT GOES ON IN THE DISTRICT.
>> I WILL ADD THAT AS SOON AS WE GET THAT NOTIFICATION, I'M USUALLY GETTING THE SCHOOL COMMUNICATION ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AT THE EXACT SAME TIME, VERY RARELY IS [INAUDIBLE]
[01:15:01]
>> YEAH, WE GET IT AFTER A LOT OF FYI, THIS JUST HAPPENED. I'VE ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT IT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT. AGAIN, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REFINE OUR SYSTEMS. WE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING EVEN MORE TIMELY.
BUT THAT IS A VERY CONSCIOUS EFFORT ON ALL OF OUR PART IN ORDER TO GET OUR COMMUNITY, THAT COMMUNICATION AS QUICKLY AND AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE.
>> I GUESS IT'S PRETTY EASY IF A STUDENT GETS ON THEIR PHONE AND SAYS, "HEY, WE JUST WENT UNDER WHATEVER THAT, HOLD, WHATEVER," AND THEY SEND THAT BACK TO THEIR PARENTS OR GUARDIANS, THAT MIGHT BE THE OFFICIAL MESSAGE THAT THE DISTRICT IS ABOUT TO SEND OUT.
>> YES, SIR. THAT IS ACCURATE AS WELL.
AGAIN, WITH SOME OF THE CONFUSION VERSUS A HOLE VERSUS A LOCKDOWN, SAY A HOLD IS CALLED AT A SECONDARY CAMPUS, AND A STUDENT TEXTS THEIR PARENT AND SAYS, "WE JUST WENT UNDER LOCKDOWN." THEN A PARENT IMMEDIATELY GOES TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND SAYS, "WHY IS THE SCHOOL UNDER LOCKDOWN?" THAT IN TURN TURNS INTO SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT WHEN IN FACT, THAT IT WAS NEVER A LOCKDOWN TO BEGIN WITH.
THAT IS A CHALLENGE THAT WE FACE, BUT AGAIN, AS LONG AS WE'RE GETTING IN OUT THERE AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE, AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, AND BEING AS TRANSPARENT AS POSSIBLE, WE KNOW THAT WE'RE DOING OUR DUE DILIGENCE FOR OUR STUDENTS, OUR STAFF, AND OUR COMMUNITY, AND FOR YOU GUYS AS A SCHOOL BOARD.
>> ALSO, MR. MILLER, SOMETIMES THEY'RE NOT ACTUALLY OUR PARENTS FROM THE DISTRICT.
>> I HAVE NOTICED THAT AS WELL.
>> JUST SOME PROFILE SEARCHING SOMETIMES.
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT LIKE TO STIR UP TROUBLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT AS WELL.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON?
>> WHAT CAN WE SAY TO THE COMMUNITY WHEN THEY'RE SAYING THAT WE DON'T HAVE AS MUCH OFFICERS ON CAMPUS THIS YEAR?
>> WHEN I GUESS THE COMMUNITY IS INDICATING THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MANY OFFICERS THAT WE SHOULD ON CAMPUS.
>> I'LL ANSWER THAT BECAUSE THAT'S A TOUGH QUESTION BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE IS SOME MAGIC FORMULA.
WE HAVE AN OFFICER EVERY DAY THAT OUR KIDS ARE AT SCHOOL AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT, BECAUSE OTHER DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE THAT, WE'RE 100%.
BUT THAT'S A FACT. MOST DISTRICTS SAY THAT THEY HAVE AN ARMED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AT EVERY CAMPUS.
THAT'S VERY RARE AND THERE'S PEOPLE SAY THAT THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE.
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE THAT OUT BECAUSE WE WORKED WITH CALDWELL COUNTY.
WE'RE VERY THANKFUL TO JUDGE HAYDEN TO COMMISSIONER WESTMORELAND IN PARTICULAR, WHO REALLY HELPED US MAKE THAT A POSSIBILITY IN USING THE CONSTABLE PROGRAM BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH LOCKHART PD.
THAT'S NOT A LOCKHART PD THEY JUST DON'T HAVE THE MANPOWER TO GIVE US NINE OFFICERS EVERY DAY.
BUT THAT I THINK IS A GOOD THING THAT WE CAN GUARANTEE THAT TO OUR PARENTS, AND LET'S BE CLEAR.
THAT'S WHY WE DID IT FOR THE WORST-CASE SITUATION SO THAT OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF HAVE SOMEONE THERE TO PROTECT THEM IN CASE OF THE WORST.
THAT'S WHY WE DID THAT. IT'S NOT THERE TO FIND DRUGS AND DO ALL THAT STUFF.
THAT HAPPENS MAYBE BECAUSE KIDS GET TO KNOW OUR SROS, THEY'LL COMMUNICATE, THEY'LL TRY TO KEEP THEIR SCHOOL SAFE AND THAT STUFF ABSOLUTELY HAPPENS.
BUT ADDING THEM AT AT CARVER ELEMENTARY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.
IT HAS TO DO WITH KEEPING OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF SAFE.
DO WE NEED TO DO MORE? THAT'S A DECISION THAT WE'LL HAVE TO MAKE GOING INTO NEXT YEAR, BUT I DO THINK THAT IT IS RARE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS 100% OF THE DAYS KIDS ARE IN SCHOOL, 100% OF THEIR SCHOOLS WITH A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS VERY RARE.
>> THANK YOU. AS FAR AS THAT GOES, I WANT TO RECOGNIZE MR. ESTRADA BECAUSE HE WAS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.
WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR PEACE OFFICERS TO PUT IT EVERY CAMPUS, WHICH A LOT OF DISTRICTS DON'T HAVE, HE GOT WITH THE COUNTY COURT, PARTICULARLY B. J. WESTMORELAND, AND THEY WORKED OUT A SYSTEM THAT WE COULD USE CONSTABLES IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
WITHOUT MR. ESTRADA'S THINKING AND HARD WORK ON THAT, WE PROBABLY WOULDN'T BE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW AND HE SHOULD BE HONORED OR HE DID A REALLY GOOD JOB ON THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT PRESIDENT.
[01:20:02]
GOING BACK TO OUR NOTIFICATIONS.THIS IS JUST A BREAKDOWN OF PER CAMPUS, EACH NOTIFICATION THAT'S BEEN SENT OUT THIS YEAR.
AGAIN, THESE AREN'T ALL NECESSARILY CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS.
IT'S DRILL NOTIFICATIONS AND CRISIS.
AGAIN, YOU'LL SEE ON THE NEXT SLIDE THAT MOST OF THEM COME IN THE FORM OF THE HOLD IN THE MEDICAL EMERGENCY.
IT'S NO SURPRISE THAT AGAIN, THE LION'S SHARE OF THOSE NOTIFICATIONS ARE COMING FROM OUR SECONDARY CAMPUSES BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE STUDENTS AND THE MOST STAFF.
>> I'LL SAY HERE TOO, THIS IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF WHERE THE DISTRICT WE USED TO NOT COMMUNICATE ALL OF THESE THINGS.
LIFE HAPPENS AND WE PROBABLY HAVE 8,000 HUMAN BEINGS ON OUR CAMPUSES EVERY DAY, AND HEART ATTACKS HAPPEN.
ACCIDENTS HAPPEN THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT, LIFE HAPPENS AND WE HAVE TO GO INTO HOLES AND SO MANY OF THESE INSTANCES ARE THAT SITUATION.
BUT WE HAVE TO COMMUNICATE THAT BECAUSE WHEN A COMMUNITY MEMBER IN LOW CAR SEES AN AMBULANCE HEAD IN A CERTAIN DIRECTION, WE ALREADY KNOW THE WORDS GOING TO BE OUT, WE HAVE TO GET THAT OUT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WE WANT THEM TO HEAR FROM US WHAT'S GOING ON.
I THINK LATER YOU HAVE A CHART THAT BREAKS DOWN SOME OF THE NOTIFICATIONS.
>> BUT SO MUCH OF THIS, AND I'VE HAD PEOPLE TELL ME, WHY ARE YOU DOING THAT? IT MAKES ME NERVOUS AND SENDS ME ALARM UNNECESSARILY.
I UNDERSTAND THAT MAY BE THE RESPONSE.
BUT I FEEL LIKE WE STILL HAVE TO BECAUSE IF WE DON'T, PEOPLE WILL MAKE UP THEIR OWN STORY AS TO WHY THE MS IS ON ITS WAY.
IT ALMOST ALWAYS IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SAFETY OF A KID OR A STAFF MEMBER.
WE HAVE TO HELP SOMEONE WHO HAS A MEDICAL CONDITION.
>> EXCELLENT TRANSITION INTO THIS SLIDE.
THANK YOU, MR. ESTRADA. [NOISE] EXCUSE ME.
THIS IS A GRAPH OF JUST COMMUNICATIONS FOR THE MOST PART, BY EVENT.
WE SEND THOSE OUT AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL ANYTIME THAT WE HAVE A DRUG DOG SWEEP.
THERE'S BEEN 10 OF THOSE WEAPON, A PROHIBITED ITEM.
THERE'S BEEN FIVE OF THOSE, FOUR OF WHICH WERE EITHER NOT EVEN A FUNCTIONING AIRSOFT GUN OR A CAP GUN, AND THEN THERE WAS A VERY UNFORTUNATE EVENT AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE THERE WAS AN ACTUAL WEAPON FOUND THREAT.
WE'VE HAD 12 OF THOSE, AND THEN MEDICAL EMERGENCIES, THERE'S BEEN 28 OF THOSE TO DATE.
THE REST OF THOSE ARE DRILL NOTIFICATIONS, INFORMATIVE NOTIFICATIONS, AND UPDATES TO ACTIVE SITUATIONS AS WELL.
WE DISCUSSED THAT EARLIER, BUT I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE.
>> I'LL SAY ON THE THREATS IN PARTICULAR, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET NOTIFICATION WHEN SOMEONE'S LIFE IS THREATENED, AND WE ARE SUPPOSED TO GET THAT NOTIFICATION SO THAT WE CAN SHARE OUT WITH THE PARENTS.
IF THAT DOESN'T HAPPEN, WE NEED TO KNOW THAT SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND APPROPRIATELY, BUT ANYTIME THERE'S A THREAT MADE TO A CHILD, THE CAMPUS IS TO INFORM THE ADMINISTRATION SO THAT WE CAN RESPOND APPROPRIATELY AND SHARE OUT COMMUNICATION.
>> JUST A LITTLE BIT OF INSIGHT TO LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL AND LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL.
THESE ARE THINGS THAT AS A DISTRICT, WE DON'T COMMUNICATE, THESE ARE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS THAT ARE HANDLED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.
I JUST WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.
LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL HAS HAD 42 DRUG OFFENSES TO DATE THIS YEAR AND 21 FIGHTS.
SIX OF THOSE OFFENSES ACTUALLY OCCURRED AT LDMC, BUT BECAUSE THEY'RE STILL CODED AS LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, IT SHOWS UP ON THEIR DISCIPLINE REPORT.
THAT WOULD TECHNICALLY BE 15 FIGHTS AT LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL AND THEN LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH; THERE'S BEEN 24 DRUG OFFENSES TO DATE.
AGAIN, THESE ARE NOT AS A RESULT OF THE DRUG DOGS, AND TWO OF THOSE OFFENSES ACTUALLY OCCURRED AT LDMC AS WELL, AND THEN 35 FIGHTS AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL AND LOCKHART HIGH SCHOOL.
JUST AS A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT, FOR AS WE CONTINUE ON TO OUR THOUGHT EXCHANGE INFORMATION, WE JUST WANTED TO PROVIDE YOU THOSE STATISTICS AS WELL. QUESTIONS.
>> THIS TERM HAS BEEN USED A LOT IN THE DISTRICT.
[01:25:01]
IT'S USED EVERYWHERE PROBABLY.IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT IS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A CULTURE WHERE WHEN OUR KIDS SEE SOMETHING, THEY TELL ADULT WHO THEY TRUST AND THAT THEY CAN CONFIDE IN.
WHEN WE LOOK AT ALMOST ALL OF THOSE THREATS CAME FROM A KID TELLING A TEACHER.
THAT IS ONE OF THE MAIN MECHANISMS WE HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT INFORMATION, IT IS SO IMPORTANT.
I JUST WANT TO REITERATE THAT A KID WILL NEVER BE IN TROUBLE.
IF THEY THINK THEY SEE SOMETHING AND IT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.
I WANT TO REWIND A LITTLE BIT TO THE INCIDENT THAT HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER AND STATE SOME OF THE FACTS.
HOW THAT IS DIFFERENT THAN SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.
WE HAD A REPORT THAT A STUDENT ASKED FOR PERMISSION TO LEAVE A SPECIFIC CLASSROOM AT A SPECIFIC TIME TO GO TO THE RESTROOM AND THAT THEY SAW A SPECIFIC STUDENT WEARING A SPECIFIC BACKPACK AND THEY SAW SOMETHING VERY SPECIFIC IN THEIR BAG, AND THEY REPORTED THAT.
WE GET THAT REPORT, WHAT WE FOUND IS THAT NO STUDENT EVER LEFT THAT CLASSROOM, NO STUDENT EVER ASKED THE PERMISSION TO LEAVE THE CLASSROOM.
NO STUDENT WENT TO THE RESTROOM AT THAT TIME, NO STUDENT SAW ANY PERSON FITTING THE DESCRIPTION THAT WAS REPORTED AND THAT NEVER HAPPENED.
WHEN WE KNOW THAT FACTUALLY SOMETHING DID HAPPEN AND IT IS FABRICATED, AND IT'S MADE UP TO CAUSE ALARM, THAT'S MUCH DIFFERENT THAN SEEING SOMETHING AND SAYING SOMETHING.
IN THOSE SITUATIONS, CONSEQUENCES WILL BE GIVEN BECAUSE SOMEBODY MADE SOMETHING UP TO CAUSE ALARM IN THE COMMUNITY. MUCH DIFFERENT.
SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, SAY SOMETHING MEANS IS, I'M A KID AND I GO BY THE RESTROOM AND I SEE SOMETHING THAT'S CONCERNING, AND I GO AND REPORT IT, AND WE LOOK TO VERIFY AND THE KID WAS WHERE THEY SAY THEY WERE WHEN THEY SAW SOMEBODY THAT REASONABLY FITS THAT DESCRIPTION, AND MAYBE THEY THOUGHT THAT THEY SAW, AND IT TURNS OUT MAYBE THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.
THAT SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING.
THE CHILD WILL NEVER BE IN TROUBLE FOR THAT BECAUSE THEY WERE REPORTING SOMETHING THAT THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD SEEN.
BUT WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT SOMEONE IS NOT IN THE LOCATION THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE, THEY DID NOT LEAVE THE LOCATION THAT THEY SAID THEY WERE IN THAT THE PERSON OF INTEREST WAS NOT IN THE LOCATION THEY SAID THEY WERE AT, AND NONE OF IT IS TRUE, THAT'S VERY DIFFERENT AND CONSEQUENCES WILL BE ENFORCED IN THAT SITUATION.
I JUST WANT TO CLARIFY THAT WE ABSOLUTELY WANT OUR KIDS TO SAY SOMETHING WHEN THEY THINK THAT THEY HAVE SEEN SOMETHING.
THEY WILL NEVER BE IN TROUBLE IF IT WORKS OUT.
IF IT TURNS OUT THAT MAYBE IT WASN'T WHAT THEY THOUGHT IT WAS.
BUT IF YOU MAKE UP AND FABRICATE SOMETHING THAT IS COMPLETELY VERIFIABLE BY OUR VIDEO CAMERAS, WE HAVE CAMERAS IN MOST PLACES ACROSS THE DISTRICT, WHEN WE'RE ABLE TO DETERMINE THAT THE STORY IS NOT TRUE, THEN THAT'S WHEN THERE'S A DIFFERENCE.
I JUST WANT TO JUST CLARIFY THAT BECAUSE I THINK THAT'S BEEN LINGERING FOR FAR TOO LONG.
>> THANK YOU FOR CLARIFYING THAT.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS BEFORE WE MOVE ON? IN RESPONSE, SHORTLY AFTER THE EVENT AT LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, WE DID SEND AN ENGAGEMENT SURVEY THROUGH THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE PLATFORM TO ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY.
WE SENT THAT ON FEBRUARY 27TH AND IT WAS OPENED THROUGH MARCH 7TH.
THE WAY THOUGHT EXCHANGE WORKS, IT'S A VERY UNIQUE AND WONDERFUL PROGRAM, AND YOU CAN PROVIDE A THOUGHT, SUCH AS WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY IN LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, AND THEN PARENTS CAN EXPRESS THEIR THOUGHTS.
THEN THEY CAN ALSO RATE OTHER PEOPLE'S THOUGHTS AS WELL.
THAT WAS OUR OVERARCHING THOUGHT.
THAT WAS OUR OVERARCHING QUESTION.
WHAT ARE YOUR BIGGEST CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL SAFETY IN LOCKHART ISD? WE HAD 537 PARTICIPANTS.
AGAIN, IT WAS A GOOD SAMPLE SIZE, BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY STUDENTS AND HOW MANY FAMILIES WE HAVE, IT COULD CERTAINLY BE LARGER.
BUT WITH 537 PARTICIPANTS, WE HAD 339 THOUGHTS AND OVER 10,000 RATINGS.
THE ONES WHO DID PARTICIPATE IN THE EXCHANGE WERE VERY ACTIVE PARTICIPANTS, AND WE'RE GRATEFUL FOR THAT AS WELL.
IN ADDITION TO THE OPEN ENDED THOUGHT THAT I JUST MENTIONED,
[01:30:02]
WE ALSO ASKED THREE SURVEY QUESTIONS.THOSE QUESTIONS ARE, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH CURRENT SAFETY MEASURES AND LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL? HOW WELL DO YOU FEEL THE DISTRICT COMMUNICATES ABOUT SAFETY POLICIES AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES? AND THEN WHAT ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN LISD? THE FIRST TWO WERE ON A RATING SCALE, AND THE THIRD ONE WAS AN OPEN ENDED THOUGHT.
OPEN ENDED QUESTION. FOR THE FIRST QUESTION, HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH THE CURRENT SAFETY MEASURES IN LOCKHART INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
YOU CAN SEE THAT WE HAD A RATING SCALE OF 1-10, ZERO BEING EXTREMELY UNSATISFIED AND 10 BEING EXTREMELY SATISFIED, 63% OF THE RESPONDENTS SAID THAT THEY WERE DISSATISFIED.
THEN THE TERM THAT THOUGHT EXCHANGE USES IS PASSIVE, SEVEN AND EIGHT WOULD FALL IN THE PASSIVE RANGE AND THEN 8% FELL IN THE SATISFIED RANGE.
THAT WAS, AGAIN, IN RESPONSE TO HOW SATISFIED ARE YOU WITH CURRENT SAFETY MEASURES AND LOCKHART ISD.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THAT QUESTION OR THIS DATA?
>> WE HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THEIR PARENT OF ELEMENTARY OR SECONDARY?
>> NO, SIR. THAT WOULD BE ON THE NEXT SURVEY FOR SURE.
I'M ON MY PART, AND I WILL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT ONE.
>> I CAN TELL YOU QUALITATIVELY BASED ON PARENT FEEDBACK FROM FORUMS AND OTHER THINGS.
I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE NOT THAT FAR OFF.
MAYBE A LITTLE BIT MORE POSITIVE.
BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IF YOU WERE TO SEPARATE IT, THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE DIFFERENCE BASED ON WHAT PARENTS ARE TELLING ME.
>> GREAT QUESTION THOUGH, MR. CHARLES. THANK YOU.
HOW WELL DO YOU FEEL THE DISTRICT COMMUNICATES ABOUT SAFETY POLICIES AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES? AGAIN, SIMILAR TREND, BUT SLIGHTLY LESS WOULD BE SATISFIED AT 43%, 35% FALLING IN THAT PASSIVE RANGE OF THE 7-8 RANGE, AND THEN 22% BEING AT EXTREMELY WELL.
AGAIN, INTERESTING OF THE 537 PARTICIPANTS ONLY 489 ANSWERED THE FIRST QUESTION AND ONLY 483 ANSWER THE SECOND QUESTION.
AGAIN, JUST SOMETHING THE THOUGHT.
>> YES. I WANT TO PLAY THE ANTAGONIST OR WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.
IT LOOKS LIKE I SEE SIX DISSATISFIED CATEGORIES.
FOR ME, YOU FIND WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR, AND WHEN YOU GIVE SOMEBODY THAT MANY PARAMETERS FOR DISSATISFACTION, I PROMISE YOU.
I CAN BE A VERY NEGATIVE PERSON AT TIMES.
IF YOU GIVE ME A CHOICE LIKE THAT, I'M GOING TO FIND SOMETHING TO BUST YOUR CHOPS ABOUT.
WHAT WERE THE CATEGORIES? VERY UNSATISFIED.
OUT OF MY MIND UNSATISFIED OR WHAT WERE THE CATEGORIES FOR THOSE SIX CATEGORIES BECAUSE I'M NOT SEEING A WHOLE LOT LEFT ON THE OTHER END FOR ANY SATISFACTION.
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT POINT, MR. LOCKHART, AND YOU'RE COMPLETELY ACCURATE.
WE DISCUSSED THAT THIS MORNING IN CABINET AS WELL AND TO HAVING A MORE NARROW SCOPE OF SATISFACTION AREAS FOR PEOPLE TO CHOOSE NEXT TIME.
>> IF YOU GIVE THEM TOO MANY CHANCES TO BE NEGATIVE, THEY FEEL LIKE THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING BUT BE NEGATIVE.
I WANT PEOPLE TO HAVE A CHANCE TO BE POSITIVE AND THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT AS FAR AS OUR KIDS.
WE WANT TO TEACH THEM TO BE POSITIVE CITIZENS AND NOT BE NEGATIVE CITIZENS.
I CAN PICK AND IT PICK THE THINGS TO DEATH AND I FEEL OBLIGATED IF I'M MAD ABOUT ONE LITTLE THING AND THERE MAY BE 99 THINGS THAT I'M OKAY WITH, BUT THAT ONE LITTLE THING I'M MAD ABOUT, THEN GUESS WHAT I'M GOING TO SWING TO.
THEY'RE NOT DOING A DARN THING AT THE SCHOOLS.
SCHOOL BOARDS SITTING ON THEIR HANDS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THAT CLEANED UP A LITTLE BIT.
>> I DON'T GET TOO PASSIONATE ABOUT MANY THINGS, BUT I HAD TO TAKE STATISTICS TWICE, ONCE IN ONE THING [LAUGHTER] AND ONCE IN THE OTHER.
>> WE APPRECIATE THAT FEEDBACK.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. LOCKHART.
>> CAN I SEE QUESTION 1 GRAPH AGAIN? IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S A NATURAL BREAK BETWEEN 5 AND 6.
SIX WERE TO BE PASSIVE OR HOWEVER IT WAS CALCULATED.
BUT THEN AGAIN, FIVE IS MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.
[01:35:03]
>> BUT THE WAY THAT WE HAVE IT SET UP HERE, I THINK THAT NUMBER 6 COULD BE NOT DISSATISFIED, BUT MAYBE PASSIVE.
>> THAT'S AN EXCELLENT POINT TO YOU, MR. CHARLES. THANK YOU.
>> I WILL SAY THIS. NINE IN 10.
WHEN I LOOK AT THAT EXTREMELY SATISFIED.
FOR ME, THAT MEANS WE'RE PERFECT.
I WAS TOLD BY A SUPERVISOR ONCE THAT NOBODY'S PERFECT, THAT MEANS THEY JUST FELT GOOD ABOUT IT AND NECESSARILY NOT GREAT ABOUT IT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOUR NEW SCALE.
>> YES, SIR. WE'LL GET THAT FOR YOU.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERN BEFORE YOU MOVE ON TO THE OPEN ENDED QUESTION? THE QUESTION NUMBER 3 WAS WHAT ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IMPLEMENTED IN LISD SCHOOLS? AGAIN, THE BIGGEST WORDS RISE TO THE TOP.
IN THIS PARTICULAR ONE, WE CAN ALL SEE WHAT'S RIGHT THERE IN THE CENTER OF THAT ONE, WHICH WOULD BE METAL DETECTORS.
AGAIN, THAT WAS WHAT MANY INDIVIDUALS THAT COMPLETED THE SURVEY FELT ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURE COULD BE.
AS WELL AS SECURITY, BACKPACKS, OFFICERS, DOGS, THOSE WERE ALL UP, BUT METAL DETECTORS DID RISE TO THE TOP OF THAT PARTICULAR QUESTION.
THEN MOVING ON TO THE ACTUAL THOUGHTS THAT WERE IN THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE ITSELF.
THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL WORD CLOUD, AND THE WORDS ARE SIZE BASED ON THE STAR RATINGS IN WHICH THEY APPEARED IN.
BASICALLY, ANYTIME SOMEONE MADE A COMMENT, IF THEY RATED IT AT THREE STARS OR FOUR STARS OR FIVE STARS, THE MORE STARS THAT IT GOT, THE MORE THE WORDS ARE GOING TO POP UP.
IN THIS CASE, CONSEQUENCES AND BEHAVIOR ARE OUR TWO BIGGEST ONES.
OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S WEAPONS AND DRUGS IN THE WELL, BUT CONSEQUENCES BEING THE OVERWHELMING.
>> IN MY MIND, [NOISE] WHAT DOES METAL MEAN?
>> THAT MEANS THAT THAT WORD WAS JUST PICKED UP.
>> BECAUSE IT WAS PART OF DETECTOR.
>> IT BITES DIVIDED AWAY BY ITSELF INSTEAD OF BEING TOGETHER?
>> I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T, BECAUSE THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE. THANK YOU.
>> ALL THIS IS DOING IS LITERALLY SCANNING HOWEVER MANY COMMENTS WERE MADE AND LOOKING FOR FREQUENTLY USED WORDS, AND THE BIGGER THE WORD, THE MORE IT WAS USED BY OUR PARENTS IN THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE.
YOU SEE THAT CONSEQUENCE WAS USED OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN, AND THE SMALLER THE WORD, THE LESS IT WAS USED CONSEQUENCE COULD BE A LOT OF THINGS.
WE CAN DIG INTO THAT AND SEE LITERALLY EVERY TIME IT WAS USED AND SEE IN WHAT CONTEXT IT WAS USED.
I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THE MAJORITY OF TIME IT WAS USED IN A MANNER OF, WE NEED TO ENSURE THAT CONSEQUENCES THAT KIDS ARE RECEIVING CONSEQUENCES FOR THINGS THAT THEY'RE DOING AT SCHOOL, ARE THE CONSEQUENCES WORKING? ARE THE CONSEQUENCES CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR, OR THE CONSEQUENCES HARSH ENOUGH LIKE THOSE TYPES OF THINGS ARE GENERALLY THE CONTEXT OF THAT WORD.
BUT IT'S JUST PULLING THE MOST FREQUENTLY USED WORDS AND THEN YOU SEE THAT IN A WORD CLOUD.
>> THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION AND THANK YOU FOR THE KEEN OBSERVATION, MR. LOCKHART.
>> WELL, I SEE DETECTORS OVER THERE NOW, BUT IT WAS TOO FAR AWAY FOR ME LOCKHART BECAUSE I WAS ALREADY FOCUSED OVER HERE.
>> [LAUGHTER] THAT IS A VERY GOOD OBSERVATION.
IF YOU NOTICE, SOME OF THE OTHER THINGS ARE SPLIT UP TOO, LIKE MENTAL IS UP TOP WHEREAS HEALTH IS OVER HERE OFF TO THE SIDE, BUT OBVIOUSLY, THOSE TWO WORDS GO TOGETHER.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE OVERVIEW OF THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE.
IT PRESENTS AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONCERNS AND THE CHALLENGES EXPRESSED BY THE PARTICIPANTS.
THE KEY CONCERNS THAT ROSE TO THE TOP.
OVERCROWDING IN SCHOOLS LEADS TO POOR SUPERVISION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO MANAGE STUDENTS EFFECTIVELY AND RESPOND TO EMERGENCIES.
WEAPONS AND DRUGS ON CAMPUS WAS ANOTHER KEY CONCERN.
IT WAS BROUGHT UP, THE PRESENCE OF WEAPONS, OBVIOUSLY, AND DRUGS POSE A THREAT TO THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF STUDENTS AND STAFF CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT OF FEAR AND ANXIETY.
LACK OF EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE WAS ANOTHER KEY CONCERN, AND EFFECTIVE DISCIPLINE RESULTS IN INCREASED MISBEHAVIOR, BULLYING AND OTHER UNSAFE ACTIONS, DISRUPTING THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, INSUFFICIENT SAFETY MEASURES, THE LACK OF METAL DETECTORS OR ADDITIONAL SECURITY CAMERAS AND SROS,
[01:40:01]
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT TO SAY ADDITIONAL EVEN THOUGH IT DOESN'T SAY IT THERE BECAUSE WE DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF SECURITY CAMERAS AND WE DO HAVE SROS.BUT LE SCHOOLS VULNERABLE TO POTENTIAL THREATS AND THEN INADEQUATE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT WAS ANOTHER KEY CONCERN THAT CAME UP.
INEFFICIENT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, THE STUDENTS CAN LEAD TO UNRESOLVED ISSUES AND MANIFEST BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS, BULLYING, AND VIOLENCE. QUESTIONS.
>> THESE ARE AGAIN, SOME OF THE THEMES THAT AROSE FROM THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE AS WELL, A SUMMARY IF YOU WILL.
IT REFLECTS THE SLIDE THAT I JUST READ, BUT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF SLIGHT LITTLE DIFFERENCES.
AGAIN, THE PARTICIPANTS FREQUENTLY MENTIONED THE NEED FOR IMPROVED SAFETY MEASURES AT OUR SCHOOLS, ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES.
MORE SECURITY CAMERAS, POTENTIALLY METAL DETECTORS, SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS, THOSE BEING THE BIG THREE, DISCIPLINE AND BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT.
STRONG PERCEPTION THAT DISTRICT POLICIES ARE INEFFECTIVE OR THAT THERE'S DISCREPANCIES IN THOSE CURRENT POLICIES.
OVERCROWDING COMES UP AGAIN, AS WELL.
AS WE KNOW THE LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IS CURRENTLY IN 97% CAPACITY, AND WILL BE 100% BEFORE WE START THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THAT CAN LEAD TO POOR SUPERVISION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR STAFF TO MANAGE STUDENTS.
AGAIN, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, THE NEED FOR BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SERVICES FOR STUDENTS, WAS A RECURRING THEME, AND THEN COMMUNICATION AND TRANSPARENCY, WHICH WE'VE ALSO DISCUSSED, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY FROM ADMINISTRATORS ARE HIGHLY VALUED BY PARTICIPANTS.
THEY WANT TIMELY UPDATES, THEY WANT SAFETY INCIDENTS, CLEAR INFORMATION ABOUT THE MEASURES BEING ABLE TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY CONCERNS.
QUESTIONS, COMMENTS, CONCERNS ABOUT THAT?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT CAMERAS.
THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, HOW MANY TOTAL CAMERAS DO WE HAVE IN USE RIGHT NOW? IF YOU DON'T KNOW, MAYBE TECHNOLOGY CAN ANSWER.
>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION, PRESIDENT WRIGHT THAT I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBER FOR.
ABOUT 400. IT'S A LOT OF CAMERAS.
>> WE'VE TRIED OUR BEST TO IDENTIFY, WITH THIS LAST UPGRADE THAT WE DID, IDENTIFY BLIND SPOTS.
WITH 400 CAMERAS, THERE ARE TIMES TO WHERE MAYBE ONE OF THEM IS DOWN OR SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE CAMERA OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, BUT FOR THE MOST PART THEY'RE UP, THEY'RE WORKING.
WE'RE WORKING ON INCREASING THE STORAGE.
WITH 400 CAMERAS, IT'S A LOT OF STORAGE TO KEEP THEM ON FOR A LONG EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.
ACTUALLY WE GOT A BID FOR THAT TO INCREASE THE STORAGE SO THAT WE CAN KEEP VIDEOS FOR LONGER BECAUSE SOMETIMES IF SOMETHING MAY COME UP A MONTH LATER AND YOU GO AND THE VIDEO IS GONE BECAUSE IT'S NOT STORING FOR THAT LONG.
WE'RE LOOKING AT INCREASING THE STORAGE CAPACITY OF THOSE CAMERAS.
BUT FOR THE MOST PART, I FEEL LIKE THIS LAST UPGRADE THAT WE DID, WE HAVE PRETTY GOOD COVERAGE ACROSS THE DISTRICT.
CERTAINLY WITHIN THE BUILDINGS, AND THEN PRETTY GOOD COVERAGE OUTSIDE AND THE EXTERIOR PARTS AS WELL.
>> OUR DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY JUST CLARIFIED FOR US.
>> I HAD A QUESTION FOR ACTUALLY THE SUPERINTENDENT ON OVERCROWDING.
WHEN A SCHOOL REACHES 100%, WHAT IS DONE TO ASSURE THE SAFETY FOR THOSE STUDENTS? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THAT'S A BIG CONCERN I'M HEARING AROUND IS THAT WHEN YOU HAVE PUSHED THE LIMITS OF CAPACITY, WHAT CAN YOU DO?
>> I CAN SPEAK SPECIFIC TO LOCKHART JUNIOR HIGH, FOR EXAMPLE.
IN THE HIGH SCHOOL YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO CONTROL TRAFFIC PATTERNS, TO CONTROL TIMES WHERE THE KIDS ARE GOING TO THE COMMON SPACES.
FOR EXAMPLE, AT THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WE'VE DONE A COUPLE OF THINGS.
RECENTLY ONE IS HAVING A STAGGERED BELL SCHEDULE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE SIXTH GRADE BELL RING, SIXTH GRADERS MOVE AND TRANSITION, AND THEN THE SEVENTH GRADE BELL WILL RING.
THE SIXTH GRADERS GET TO THE NEXT CLASS AND SEVENTH GRADERS COME AND GO AND THEN THE EIGHTH GRADE BELL WILL RING, SO IT'S STAGGERED SO THAT YOU TRY TO LIMIT THE TIMES THAT ALL THE KIDS ARE IN THE HALLWAY AND PASSING PERIOD.
WE'VE DONE OTHER THINGS. WE'VE DONE ONE WAY TRAFFIC.
[01:45:01]
JUST LIKE HOW CARS MOVE, AND THAT'S A LOT HARDER BECAUSE OUR HALLWAYS ARE TIGHTER.BUT REALLY THE MASTER SCHEDULE ALSO HAS A LOT TO DO.
YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO STRATEGICALLY HAVE YOUR OFF PERIODS WHERE YOU HAVE BIG CLASSES LIKE PE OR ATHLETICS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE GYMS ARE AND WHERE YOUR OTHER CLASSES ARE AND IT'S A BIG PUZZLE, ESPECIALLY AT THE SECONDARY LEVEL TO FIGURE OUT HOW CAN WE TRANSITION KIDS, WHETHER THAT'S FROM PERIOD TO PERIOD FROM LUNCH TO THE NEXT PERIOD.
IS ONE LUNCH PERIOD ENDING WHEN YOU'RE MOVING ANOTHER GROUP? THAT'S PROBABLY A BAD IDEA.
WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT THAT SCHEDULING.
THERE'S A LOT OF THOUGHT THAT GOES INTO THE MASTER SCHEDULE WHERE KIDS ARE EVERY PERIOD AND THEN HOW THEY TRANSITION FROM CLASS TO CLASS.
THEN ALSO BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL, HAVING THOSE HOW YOU ENTER SCHOOL, WHERE YOU GO, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND ESPECIALLY DISMISSAL.
THAT'S A BIG ONE BECAUSE AT THE JUNIOR HIGH AND HIGH SCHOOL, YOU HAVE 1,500 AND 2,000 KIDS LEAVING THE BUILDING AT THE SAME TIME.
FIGURING OUT HOW CAN WE DO THAT IN A STRUCTURED WAY SO THAT KIDS CAN EXIT THE BUILDING SAFELY.
I THINK THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE AS WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE IDEAS THAT ARE BEING PROPOSED.
HOW DO YOU BRING IN 2,000 KIDS INTO ONE SPACE QUICKLY AND EFFICIENTLY, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, IN PARTICULAR WITH METAL DETECTORS.
I'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH OUT TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE OF TEXAS.
I'VE MET WITH SOME VENDORS AS WELL TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF TECHNOLOGY IS OUT THERE.
YOU HAVE METAL DETECTORS THAT ARE MORE TOP OF THE LINE THAT CAN MOVE LIKE 1,000 KIDS IN 15 MINUTES.
LET ME VERIFY THAT. BUT VERY QUICKLY AS OPPOSED TO SOME METAL DETECTORS WHERE IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR AND A HALF TO TWO HOURS TO GET THE NUMBER OF KIDS IN THE SCHOOL THAT WE HAVE.
FOR INSTANCE, I REACHED OUT TO THE SUPERINTENDENT NIVALD FOR OBVIOUS REASONS.
THAT SUPERINTENDENT IS AN EXPERT BECAUSE SHE'S HAD TO BECOME ONE WHEN IT COMES TO SCHOOL SAFETY.
THEY DON'T USE THEM DURING THE SCHOOL DAY.
THEY DO USE THEM FOR EVENTS, MAYBE A GAME, A PLAY IN THE PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.
BUT THEY FOUND THAT THE LOGISTICS OF IT IS VERY CHALLENGING.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT CAN'T FIGURE THAT OUT IF THAT'S THE WILL OF THE BOARD.
BUT I DO THINK THAT I NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE IN TELLING YOU WHAT THAT RESEARCH HAS FOUND BECAUSE IT DOES PRESENT SOME CHALLENGES.
SOME OF THEM HAVE A LOT OF POTENTIAL FLAWS, WHETHER THE SENSITIVITY THAT YOU MAY HAVE ON IT, THE TYPES OF THINGS THAT IT MAY HIT ON HAVE HUMAN ERROR, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, OR ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP OF THE LINE TYPE OF DEVICE THAT IS DESIGNED TO CATCH THE WEIGHT OF WEAPONS AND GUNS IN PARTICULAR, JUST THE TYPE OF METAL THAT IT HAS, THE SHAPE OF IT, ALL OF THOSE THINGS TO WHERE IT'S NOT AN X-RAY, BUT IT'S DETECTING THOSE, BUT THEN YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE A QUEUE OF SOMEONE SEARCHING AT THAT POINT.
THOSE TYPES ARE ABOUT $80,000 AS OPPOSED TO ONE THAT IS MORE OF A TYPICAL BASIC ONE, MAYBE LIKE $15,000, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THE PROCESS OF MANNING THEM, AND WHO'S GOING TO DO ALL THOSE SEARCHES? ARE WE GOING TO REQUIRE THAT A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER OR SOMEONE WITH A GUN IS DOING THOSE BECAUSE IF THE INTENT IS TO DETECT GUNS, IT MAY BE WISE TO HAVE SOMEONE READY TO RESPOND WHEN YOU FIND THAT.
ARE WE GOING TO PUT OUR STAFF IN A SITUATION TO SEARCH AND FIND GUNS, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO PROTECT THEMSELVES? THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AND FIGURE OUT.
BUT THERE ARE JUST ALL TYPES OF METAL DETECTORS.
WHEN WE SEE THESE IDEAS COMING IT'S NOT LIKE WE CAN BUY SOMETHING TODAY BECAUSE NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE OUR PURCHASING PROCESS, BUT WE'VE GOT TO RESEARCH WHAT TYPES ARE THERE
[01:50:01]
AND WHAT I'VE LEARNED THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IS THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS OUT THERE.THEN WE HAVE TO LOOK AT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE KNOW THAT KEEPS KIDS SAFE AND THAT'S PERSONNEL, THE HALL MONITORS, THE TEACHERS, ALL THOSE THINGS.
JUST FOR AN EXAMPLE, TO GIVE A RAISE WE'RE GOING TO MEET NEXT MONTH ABOUT OUR BUDGET.
TO GIVE A RAISE TO THE EMPLOYEES THAT WE ALREADY HAVE IS GOING TO BE $1.5 MILLION.
TO DO OTHER THINGS, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT'S THE DIRECTION WE GO IN, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO CUT STAFF BECAUSE THAT $1.5 MILLION IS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF FUNDING AND MAYBE WE NEED TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION.
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAVE TO CONSIDER.
BUT WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE BUDGET SIDE OF IT AND FIGURE OUT.
WE'RE GOING TO PRIORITIZE THAT.
WE NEED TO START DECIDING NOW, WHAT ARE WE GOING TO CUT IN ORDER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF CONVERSATIONS TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.
YEAH, JUST ALL DIFFERENT TYPES OF OPTIONS THAT WE COULD GO IN AND DIRECTIONS.
>> I THINK IT'S REALLY CHALLENGING WHEN YOU HAVE THAT MANY KIDS IN A SMALL AREA AND THEY CAN'T EVEN GO DOWN THE HALL ALL THE SAME TIME.
WE HAVE TO STAGGER THEM AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD KNOW.
I KNOW THE PARENTS KNOW, BUT EVEN THE PARENTS OF THE ELEMENTARY STUDENTS RIGHT NOW, IF WE DO HAPPEN TO GET MIDDLE SCHOOL NUMBER TWO IN THE BOOKS THIS MAY, IT'S STILL GOING TO TAKE TWO YEARS.
WE'RE STILL GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS OVER COUNTING ISSUE FOR TWO MORE YEARS AT THE MINIMUM.
>> CORRECT. QUITE FRANKLY, WE'RE ONLY GOING TO ADD KIDS THERE.
THAT'S THE URGENCY AROUND THAT INITIATIVE IS BECAUSE, LIKE YOU SAID, 2027 IS THE EARLIEST THAT WE'D BE ABLE TO OPEN A SECOND MIDDLE SCHOOL.
>> SINCE MR. ESTRADA WAS TALKING ABOUT BUDGET, FOR THOSE IN THE AUDIENCE WHO DON'T KNOW, AND THIS IS PRETTY UNIVERSAL THROUGHOUT THE STATE, 80 TO 85% OF A DISTRICT BUDGET GOES TO STAFF.
TO MAKE SIGNIFICANT CUTS IN A BUDGET YOU END UP MAYBE REMOVING SOME OF YOUR STAFF BECAUSE OTHERWISE, YOU ONLY HAVE ABOUT 15% OF THE BUDGET TO WORK WITH.
MR. ESTRADA AND MYSELF HAVE BEEN MEETING WITH ALL OF OUR CAMPUSES HERE THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
WE'VE GIVEN OUR STAFF A CHANCE TO TELL US, WHAT'S GOING WELL, WHAT'S NOT GOING WELL, WHAT DO YOU NEED? ALMOST UNIVERSAL THERE TOO, WELL, WE NEED ANOTHER PERSON HERE, ANOTHER PERSON THERE.
THEY WOULD ALL LIKE MORE ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL AT THEIR CAMPUSES.
I WOULD SAY THAT'S GREAT, BUT WE HAVE A LIMITED BUDGET AND WE CAN'T AFFORD EVERYTHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS.
>> THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT PRESIDENT, WRIGHT.
WE'RE NEARING THE HOME STRETCH, I PROMISE.
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR PATIENCE AND FOR YOUR ENGAGEMENT.
BEFORE WE MOVE ON TO THE FINAL COUPLE OF SLIDES, SPEAKING IN TERMS OF METAL DETECTORS AND ENHANCED SAFETY MEASURES ON THE CAMPUSES.
FROM THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE, WE HAVE BOTH SIDES OF THE COIN HERE.
WE HAVE ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE THE INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES, AND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE IN TERMS OF METAL DETECTORS AND INCREASED SROS AND THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE EASE IN WHICH WEAPONS AND OR DRUGS WHO COME ONTO THE CAMPUS, WHICH WE'VE TALKED ABOUT EXTENSIVELY, FEEL THE NEED FOR INCREASED SECURITY MEASURES, SUCH AS METAL DETECTORS AND SECURITY PERSONNEL IN ORDER TO QUICKLY IDENTIFY THESE THINGS IN ORDER TO MAKE OUR CAMPUSES SAFER.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN, SOME PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARGUE THAT INCREASED SAFETY MEASURES, SUCH AS METAL DETECTORS AND HEIGHTENED SURVEILLANCE MAY CREATE A PRISON LIKE ATMOSPHERE FOR A SCHOOL, AND THEY DON'T NECESSARILY WANT THAT FOR THEIR CHILDREN.
THEY WANT THEIR CHILDREN TO GO TO A WARM AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENT, WHICH OBVIOUSLY WE ALL DO, EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM WANTS THAT FOR THEIR CHILDREN AND FOR OUR STUDENTS.
BUT THEY BELIEVE THESE MEASURES CAN LEAD TO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY AS WELL AND NOT ADDRESS THE ROOT CAUSES OF THE VIOLENCE AND OR MISBEHAVIOR.
>> AS WE LOOK AT THIS, THIS IS WHAT THOUGHT EXCHANGE HELPS US DO.
[01:55:03]
IT TAKES ALL OF THAT FEEDBACK AND ACTUALLY IT'LL DO A LOT MORE, BUT THIS IS ONE OF THE MAIN PIECES THAT YOU HAVE A GROUP OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE SURVEY WHO ARE ON SIDE A AND YOU HAVE ON SIDE B AS TO BE EXPECTED.BUT THEN THEY ALSO FIND THIS COMMON GROUND THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT.
SIDE A AND SIDE B AGREE UPON THAT COMMON GROUND.
EVERY THOUGHT EXCHANGE THAT WE DO, IT GIVES US THIS, AND I THINK THAT THAT'S A STARTING POINT.
THERE MAY BE SOME THINGS ON SIDE A AND SOME THINGS ON SIDE B WE'VE GOT TO CONSIDER AND CONTINUE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS.
BUT THIS IS A STARTING POINT AS WE BRANCH OUT TO BOTH SIDES, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> THAT MADE PERFECT SENSE. THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
AGAIN, THE COMMON GROUND IS JUST WE WANT SAFER SCHOOLS.
WE WANT OUR STUDENTS AND OUR STAFF TO FEEL SUPPORTED AND TO FEEL SAFE BECAUSE JUST AS SUPERINTENDENT ESTRADA STARTED THIS WHOLE THING OF, OUR STUDENTS CAN'T LEARN IF THEY DON'T FEEL SAFE.
OUR JOB AS A DISTRICT IS TO KEEP THE WATERS CALM SO TEACHERS CAN TEACH AND STUDENTS CAN LEARN, SO THAT'S OUR MAIN OBJECTIVE AT ALL TIMES.
FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE THE ACTUAL EFFECTIVENESS OF METAL DETECTORS IN PREVENTING THOSE INCIDENTS AND THE IMPACT THAT WOULD CAUSE ON THE SCHOOL ENVIRONMENT.
THERE MAY BE SOME UNDERLYING ISSUES WITH CONSISTENCY AND ENFORCEMENT OF DISCIPLINE POLICIES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED IN ORDER TO IMPROVE OUR STUDENT BEHAVIOR AND SAFETY, AND SO WE'RE CERTAINLY WILLING TO EXAMINE DISCIPLINE POLICY AND CONSISTENCY.
>> OVERCROWDING SOLUTIONS, THAT CAME UP QUITE A BIT.
AGAIN, WE'RE EXPLORING THOSE SOLUTIONS, SUCH AS A BOND IN MAY OF 2025 FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL NUMBER 2, AND THEN A COMMUNICATION ENHANCEMENT.
JUST CONTINUE TO REFINE AND IMPROVE TIMELY AND TRANSPARENT COMMUNICATION BETWEEN ADMINISTRATOR STAFF AND STUDENTS AND FAMILIES TO ENSURE CLARITY AND TRUST IN THE SAFETY POLICIES AND PROCEDURES IN OUR DISTRICT.
>> SO THIS IS WHERE I SEE, MR. MIKE.
>> SORRY ABOUT THAT, MR. RAYMOND
>> SO WHAT I'VE BEEN HEARING AND THINKING ABOUT IS THIS WHOLE SAFETY THING TO ME, IT'S A TWO-PRONGED ATTACK.
THERE'S AN INTERNAL THREAT TO OUR KIDS' SAFETY AND THERE'S AN EXTERNAL THREAT.
EXTERNAL, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THINGS ARE NOT BROUGHT IN THAT CAN HARM THEM. HOW WE DO THAT? WE DON'T KNOW. METAL DETECTORS, CLEAR BACKPACKS, CHECKING BACKPACKS.
WE DON'T HAVE ALL THAT FIGURED OUT YET.
THEN EVEN ONCE WE DO THAT THOUGH, THERE'S STILL AN INTERNAL THREAT BECAUSE THERE'S NOT THE DISCIPLINE MAYBE THAT THERE SHOULD BE OR THERE'S THIS WHOLE OVERCROWDING ISSUE, WHICH WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON, BUT IT TAKES SOME TIME TO DO.
EVEN IF WE GET BACKPACKS CHECKED, WE GO THROUGH A METAL DETECTOR, WE GET THEM IN, THEY HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, THERE'S STILL ANOTHER THREAT TO SAFETY AND LEARNING ONCE THEY GET INSIDE.
THE WAY THAT I SEE IT IS I THINK THAT WE HAVE TO APPROACH IT FROM BOTH OF THOSE AVENUES, A TWO-PRONGED APPROACH THAT WE KEEP.
KEEPING THINGS OUT, IT COULD BE THAT IT IS A KID THAT'S A CHRONIC DISCIPLINE PROBLEM.
ARE WE AS A DISTRICT GOING TO GO TO THE POINT WHERE WE SAY, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, YOU CAN'T COME HERE ANYMORE BECAUSE WE CAN'T MANAGE YOU INSIDE OF HERE.
MAYBE YOU TRANSFERRED FROM ANOTHER DISTRICT WHERE YOU BOUNCED AROUND TO THEIR ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS AND NOW YOU'VE MOVED HERE.
WE VIEW THAT AS AN EXTERNAL THREAT COMING IN.
I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THAT BRIEFLY ALSO.
OF COURSE, WE GET DIMMED FOR THAT WHEN WE DO THAT, BUT THAT'S A DECISION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE AS A DISTRICT.
DO WE KEEP THOSE WHO ARE CHRONIC DISCIPLINE PROBLEMS OUT OF OUR SCHOOL ONCE AND FOR ALL AND SAY, YOU'RE NOT HERE TO LEARN, SO WE'RE GOING TO KEEP YOU OUT.
THEN EVEN ONCE WE GET ALL THAT CLEARED UP, WE STILL GOT TO GET THIS INTERNAL THING SOLVED.
THAT'S WHERE EVERYBODY REALLY PLAYS A PART.
WE GOT A BOND ISSUE COMING UP.
WE KNOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO NEED ADDITIONAL BONDS BECAUSE WE'RE GOING TO OUTGROW ANOTHER ELEMENTARY AND ANOTHER JUNIOR HIGH AND THE HIGH SCHOOL EVENTUALLY BECAUSE WE GOT TO KEEP MANAGING THAT INTERNAL PROBLEM.
I GUESS AS WE LOOK AT THIS, FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, YOU WERE ASKING WHAT THE BOARD WANTED, I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HOW DO WE LOOK AT THIS FROM THAT TWO-PRONGED APPROACH FROM BOTH THE EXTERNAL THREAT, WHICH COULD BE AS THOSE ILLUSTRATIONS I GAVE AND THE INTERNAL THREAT.
ONCE WE GET KIDS SAFELY IN, ARE THEY STILL REALLY SAFE IF WE'VE GOT, IS IT 1515, HOW MANY KIDS ARE THERE?
>> ONE THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED AND SEVENTEEN.
>> IT'S GONE UP SINCE WE LAUNCHED THIS, [LAUGHTER] 1517 AT THE JUNIOR HIGH.
HOW DO WE GET THEM MOVED? BECAUSE WE MAY BE DOING A STAGGERED BELL SCHEDULE TO GET THEM MOVED NOW, BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF WE DO HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE BUILDING IN THE CASE OF A FIRE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT? WE CAN'T STAGGER THEN.
WE GOT TO LOOK AT THAT ALSO BECAUSE THAT'S A THREAT TO SAFETY AS WELL.
>> WE DO DO FIRE DRILLS, OF COURSE, AND THEY PRACTICE THOSE.
[02:00:03]
I DO AGREE, AND THAT'S THE TYPE OF FEEDBACK THAT WE'RE SEEKING BECAUSE YOUR COMMENTS, ESPECIALLY AROUND DISCIPLINE REMOVING KIDS, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, I THINK THE BOARD AND ADMINISTRATION, WE NEED TO DECIDE ON THOSE APPROACHES.ARE WE GOING TO TELL TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, WE DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY IN TERMS OF WHAT WE CAN AND CANNOT DO DISCIPLINE? WE'RE GOING TO DISCIPLINE KIDS AND TAKE WHATEVER CONSEQUENCES AND ACTIONS THAT THE STATE AND FEDERAL IS GOING TO DO.
THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
FIGURE THAT OUT, AND GIVE AN EXAMPLE, SPECIAL EDUCATION.
OFTENTIMES WHEN I TALK WITH PARENTS ABOUT THEIR DISSATISFACTION WITH A KID, NOT ALL THE TIME, BUT OFTENTIMES IT'S A SPECIAL EDUCATION KID THAT HAS CERTAIN RIGHTS, AND THEY HAVE RIGHTS AS A STUDENT WITH THE IEP, INDIVIDUAL EDUCATION PLAN, AND OFTENTIMES THAT'S WHERE A LOT OF THE FRUSTRATION WILL COME UP BECAUSE THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE HELD TOO, AND OUR HANDS ARE TIED OFTENTIMES ON THOSE THINGS.
BUT IT'S JUST A CONVERSATION THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE.
WE'VE EXPELLED A KID THIS YEAR.
WE'RE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE WE CAN EXPEL KIDS, WE CAN KICK THEM OUT, BUT WE'RE STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR THEM.
SOMETIMES THAT MAY LOOK LIKE US HAVING TO PAY THE PARENT.
IT'S CALLED A DIVORCE-LIKE REAL STRATEGY THAT WE'RE HAVING TO DO BECAUSE WE CAN TELL A PARENT AND KID, YOUR KID IS NO LONGER WELCOME HERE.
BUT WE HAVE LEGAL OBLIGATIONS, AND THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE SOME BEHAVIORS THAT ARE THAT SEVERE TO WHERE, PARENT, YOUR CHILD IS NO LONGER ALLOWED TO COME TO OUR SCHOOL BECAUSE THEIR BEHAVIOR IS THAT OUT OF CONTROL.
BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT AND JUST WALK AWAY WITHOUT, UNFORTUNATELY, SOMETIMES HAVING TO BUY THEM OUT.
THAT'S CALLED EDUCATIONAL DIVORCE.
WE ARE GOING TO THOSE EXTREMES THIS YEAR TO TRY TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS AS SAFE AS POSSIBLE.
WE'RE LOOKING AT WE'VE ADDED EVERY YEAR THE PAST TWO YEARS STAFFING AT LDMC.
WE'VE DONE DIFFERENT THINGS AT THE DISCIPLINE CAMPUS.
PART OF OUR PROPOSAL THAT WE'LL SEE NEXT MONTH IN OUR BUDGET PROCESS IS ADDING MORE STAFF, FOUR MORE PEOPLE AT THAT CAMPUS.
WE'RE ADDING MORE PORTABLES NEXT YEAR OVER THERE BECAUSE CERTAIN BEHAVIORS, WE CANNOT HAVE A LACK OF SPACE OVER THERE TO BE A REASON WHY KIDS CANNOT BE OVER THERE.
I THINK OUR PARENTS HAVE SPOKEN VERY LOUDLY THAT THEY WANT TO SEE THAT.
FOR THE MOST PART, BECAUSE THEN YOU HAVE THE PARENTS WHOSE KIDS GO OVER THERE, AND THEY'RE GOING TO BASH US BECAUSE THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, TEACHER, PRINCIPAL, THEY SENT THEIR POOR BABY OVER THERE AND THAT.
BUT WE HAVE TO HAVE ALL THOSE RESOURCES AVAILABLE SO THAT OUR ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS AND PRINCIPALS CAN, WHEN APPROPRIATE, PROVIDE THAT LEVEL OF DISCIPLINE, NOT HAVE SPACE BE AN ISSUE, THAT'S WHY THEY CANNOT DO THAT.
>> TOM, I REALLY LIKE THE WAY YOU IMPARTED THE TWO-PRONGED APPROACH.
THAT'S A REALLY GOOD WAY OF LOOKING AT IT.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSSIBLY IS THE DATA THAT WE HAVE ON THE ALERT SAYING THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED, CATEGORIZING THOSE TWO.
WAS IT AN OUTSIDE THREAT, A GUN THAT WAS BROUGHT IN, A METAL DETECTOR OR A QUEER BACKER PACKER OR SOMETHING ON THAT SIDE COULD HAVE PREVENTED VERSUS WAS IT AN INSIDE ATTACKER OR A THREAT THAT, A FIGHT THAT HAPPENED, THAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.
THERE WERE NO ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT WITH THAT.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE DATA MAYBE OF THOSE TWO SO THAT THAT MAY HELP THE BOARD OR WHOEVER PRIORITIZE.
>> I CAN GIVE YOU THE DATA ON THE GUNS.
IN MY 13 YEARS IN THE DISTRICT, I'VE TALKED TO OTHER LONG-STANDING TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS IN THE DISTRICT AND THEY CANNOT RECALL A GUN ON CAMPUS.
I THINK THAT'S AN EASY PIECE OF DATA TO SHARE.
NOW, OTHER THINGS THAT YOU MENTIONED, THAT'S INTERNAL DATA.
WE CAN CERTAINLY WORK ON THAT.
>> IN THIS THOUGHT EXCHANGE PROCESS, I GUESS METAL DETECTORS COMES UP A LOT.
[02:05:03]
HAVE YOU DONE ANY RESEARCH AS FAR AS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, HOW MANY SCHOOLS ARE USING METAL DETECTORS?>> I HAVE. I DON'T HAVE A FIRM NUMBER.
I THINK THERE ARE SOME DISTRICTS THAT HAVE THEM.
[INAUDIBLE] IS A GOOD EXAMPLE.
I CALLED THEM BECAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY, BUT ALSO BECAUSE MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DID HAVE THEM.
>> THEY WEREN'T USING THEM WHEN [INAUDIBLE]
>> THEY'RE NOT USING THEM DURING THE DAY.
THERE ARE SOME OTHER DISTRICTS THAT ARE USING THEM, BUT IT'S NOT A LOT OF DISTRICTS THAT ARE USING THEM.
>> I DON'T HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER, BUT I COULD TRY MY BEST TO GIVE YOU A NUMBER, BUT THAT'S NOT A REPORTABLE DATA THAT EVERYONE REPORTS.
I'VE BEEN ABLE TO JUST, AS I'M TALKING TO OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS, DO YOU HAVE THEM, AND MOST PEOPLE SAY NO, BUT I'VE BEEN ABLE TO ASK SOME VENDORS IF THEY'RE WHO THEIR CLIENTS ARE, AND THEY HAVE A HANDFUL OF CLIENTS AROUND THE STATE THAT USE THEIR PRODUCTS.
>> I FIND MYSELF AFTER THIS PRETTY, I'M GOING TO SAY THOROUGH REPORT, BUT THIS REPORT THAT YOU'VE GIVEN TONIGHT BETWEEN YOU AND MR. ESTRADA THAT HAVE PRETTY CLEARLY LAID OUT THE THINGS THAT THE DISTRICT DOES, IS CONCERNED WITH.
I WOULD HAVE TO WONDER A LITTLE BIT IF IF YOU TOOK THOSE SAME 500 PLUS PEOPLE WHO RESPONDED TO THE SURVEY, IF THEY WERE ABLE TO WITNESS THIS PRESENTATION, HOW WOULD IT CHANGE? WOULD IT CHANGE ANYBODY'S MINDS ON THE WAY THEY ANSWERED THE QUESTION BACK OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS? BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU LISTEN, THERE'S A LOT OF STUFF GOING ON THAT MAYBE PEOPLE AREN'T AWARE OF.
WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DISCUSS THIS TO SEE HOW WE CAN GET BETTER AT IT, BUT I THINK THE DISTRICT, WE'RE NOT SITTING IN OUR HANDS, THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> CORRECT. AND THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT, AND CERTAINLY, CAN'T SPECULATE FOR ANYONE OUT THERE WATCHING OR LISTENING, BUT I WOULD CERTAINLY HOPE THAT IT WOULD CHANGE A FEW MINDS AND A FEW PERSPECTIVES.
>> THE STATE PROVIDES SOME SECURITY MONEY, BUT IT'S FOR EACH DISTRICT, BUT IT'S MINIMAL, IT'S NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING.
>> YEAH, I THINK THE PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING IS TO NOT ONLY DISCUSS THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE, BUT ALSO TO TALK ABOUT, WHAT ARE OUR NEXT STEPS? WHAT'S THE DIRECTION THAT THE BOARD HAS IN TERMS OF SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY? MR. WRIGHT, I'M NOT SURE IF THIS WOULD CHANGE.
WE JUST HAVE TO CONTINUE TO COMMUNICATE WITH OUR PARENTS, AND TRY TO SHARE THE THINGS THAT WE ARE DOING.
I THINK IT WAS IN THAT THOUGHT EXCHANGE ON THE RIGHT SIDE.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY, WE WANT TO BE REALISTIC.
WE WANT TO DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO KEEP OUR KIDS AND OUR STAFF SAFE.
BUT EVERYTHING SOMETIMES IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE.
I WANTED TO REPORT ALL THE INFORMATION THAT WE HAVE TO DATE.
IN TERMS OF METAL DETECTORS, WE DID THAT FORUM.
I ASKED THE PARENTS, IT CAME UP WITH METAL DETECTORS, AND PRETTY MUCH I THINK EVERY PARENT RAISED THEIR HAND IN TERMS OF METAL DETECTORS, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I FEEL THE RESPONSIBILITY TO COMMUNICATE TO THE BOARD.
WE DID THE THOUGHT EXCHANGE AND WE GOT FOUR OR 500 PARENTS WHO WHO PARTICIPATED IN THAT.
I JUST THINK IT'S A CONVERSATION PIECE THAT WE HAVE TO FIGURE OUT, IS THAT A STRATEGY THAT WE IMPLEMENT IN THE NEAR FUTURE?
>> WELL, ONE THING I'M CONFIDENT OF WHICHEVER DIRECTION WE GO.
I KNOW WITH MR. ESTRADA AND HIS TEAM, IT'S GOING TO BE WHAT'S BEST FOR THE DISTRICT AND WHAT'S BEST FOR KIDS.
HOWEVER WE PIECE THIS TOGETHER AND COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, I KNOW IT'LL BE A GOOD ONE.
WITH THE METAL DETECTORS, MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WE PILOT WITH.
I DON'T KNOW. YOU GUYS WILL FIGURE SOMETHING OUT.
>> NO, I JUST WANTED TO ADD, WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT METAL DETECTORS, THAT CAN BE ANYTHING FROM A WAND TO THAT $80,000 SYSTEM.
IT WOULD BE INTERESTING JUST TO GET SOME.
I GUESS THERE'S ALWAYS UP AND COMING TECHNOLOGY.
HAVE WANDS INCREASED OR IN TECHNOLOGY OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT AND WE'RE LOOKING AT SIDE A AND SIDE B ON THESE COMMENTS.
[02:10:09]
WE DON'T WANT KIDS HAVING THAT IMPRESSION THAT THEY'RE WALKING INTO A PRISON, BUT WE DO WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE SAFE.SO ANYTHING THAT WILL DETER, LIKE WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER, WHETHER IT BE CLEAR BACKPACK OR SIMPLE WAND, WILL BE OF BENEFIT.
WE CAN LOOK INTO THAT AS WELL.
>> WE HAVE WANDS ON CAMPUS ALREADY AT JOHANNIAN HIGH SCHOOL.
>> DO YOU EVER DO A SWEEP WITH THOSE?
>> NO. YOU HAVE TO HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE.
WE'RE BORDERING [LAUGHTER] ON SOME RIGHTS THERE OF KIDS AND INDIVIDUALS.
BUT JUST MY OPINION, AGAIN, I NEED TO RESEARCH MORE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WAND TECHNOLOGY HAS IMPROVED THAT MUCH, BUT I THINK THE WAND IS HEAVILY BANNED.
IT'S A LONG-TIME TO GET 1,500 KIDS WAND, OR I DON'T KNOW THE RIGHT WORD.
SCAN THEM, MOVE ALL EVERY TIME, A BELT BUCKLE OR SOMETHING HITS, MOVE THEM OVER, SEARCH THEM.
I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A FEASIBLE THING.
I THINK IF WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, WE NEED TO DO IT THE RIGHT WAY AND HAVE CERTAINTY THAT KIDS WHO WE'RE SEARCHING, THERE'S A GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE BASED ON TECHNOLOGY THAT THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SOMETHING.
I'VE SEEN SOME PRETTY HIGH TECH EXAMPLES THAT WILL GIVE US SOME CONFIDENCE.
IT'LL TELL YOU QUICKLY, WHERE IS IT AT? BECAUSE IT'S LOOKING AT THE SIZE AND THE WEIGHT AND THE SHAPE OF WHAT IT'S SCANNING, IT'LL PUT RIGHT HERE OR IT'S ON THEIR LEG OR THEIR ANKLE.
NOW THE SEARCHING PART IS ACCELERATED BECAUSE YOU KNOW YOU'VE IDENTIFIED EXACTLY WHERE TO LOOK OR IT'S IN THE BACKPACK OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
THEN THERE'S LEVELS ALL IN BETWEEN.
ALL OF THEM THOUGH ARE GOING TO REQUIRE MANPOWER AND STAFF TO HELP WITH THOSE THINGS, AND IT'S JUST A MATTER OF, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT [INAUDIBLE]
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS I'VE WRITTEN DOWN, JUST CONCERNS WITH SEARCHING AND PRIVACY.
WHERE DO YOU TAKE THEM TO SEARCH THEM, AND WHO'S IN THE ROOM?
>> YOU HAVE A LINE RIGHT THERE.
>> YEAH. [INAUDIBLE] FEMALES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT.
>> I HAVE SOME EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH THIS EQUIPMENT.
I WORKED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY AGENCY AT THE BERGSTROM AIR AIRBASE FOR AIRPORT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, AND THAT WAS WORK AS A SECURITY AGENT, THAT'S OUR JOB TO SCAN PEOPLE, X-RAY AND WHATNOT.
TO DO A THOROUGH JOB, IT WAS NOT QUICK.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME NECESSARY FOR EACH PASSENGER.
IT TOOK A LITTLE BIT. THAT IS ALWAYS SOMETHING TO CONSIDER.
>> CAN YOU BRING UP THAT A SLIDE BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO MISQUOTE ANYTHING.
I THINK THAT HEIGHTENED SURVEILLANCE PRISON-LIKE ENVIRONMENT, I THINK THAT OUR PARENTS ARE TELLING US THAT ALSO.
WE GOT TO WEIGH ALL OF THOSE THINGS.
ANY OTHER THOUGHTS, FEEDBACK, ANYTHING THAT THE BOARD WANTS TO TASK ADMINISTRATION TO RESEARCH, TO LOOK INTO?
>> IF THERE'S NO MORE DISCUSSION, I WOULD SAY THIS. THE BOARD IS HERE TONIGHT.
I'M GOING TO ASK OUR BOARD MEMBERS, AS WE ADJOURNED, THEY HANG AROUND FOR A FEW MINUTES.
IF ANYBODY HERE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS ANYTHING WITH US ONE-ON-ONE, YOU'RE WELCOME TO DO SO BEFORE WE ALL RUN OUT OF HERE.
SO ANYBODY HERE WITH A PROBLEM WITH THAT? IF THERE IS NO OTHER.
>> I JUST WANT TO THANK MR. MILLER BEFORE WE LEAVE.
>> THAT WAS A VERY THOROUGH TESTIMONY.
>> SO IF THERE IS NO OTHER DISCUSSION, THE TIME IS 8:44, AND WE ARE ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.