The backstory
The Texas Legislature passed House Bill 3 this spring, which requires districts to have an armed security officer at every campus. According to NBISD, to comply with HB 3 the district will partner with local law enforcement agencies to fill the nine SRO positions as staffing becomes available.
“It is our utmost priority to protect the safety and well-being of our students and staff,” NBISD Board President Eric Bergquist said. “With this goal in mind, the NBISD board of trustees and administration have taken careful consideration in developing and approving a school safety plan that adheres to new legislation put forth by House Bill 3.”
The district said its SROs work to establish healthy relationships and be a positive presence at schools by working as a team with students, parents and school staff.
“We are safer today than we have ever been in the past,” Director of Safety and Security Stephen Brown said. “NBISD has rigorous safety standards in place now, and our safety and security team continues to improve protocols within our district and on every campus.”
A closer look
In the previous 2022-23 school year, NBISD staffed six SROs from the New Braunfels Police Department. For the upcoming 2023-24 school year, NBISD has committed over $1 million in funding to allow one armed law enforcement officer to be posted at each of the 15 campuses in the district. The new positions will be filled by law enforcement officers from both the NBPD and the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office, according to NBISD.
“NBISD SROs are more than just a law enforcement presence; they are a part of our NBISD school family,” NBISD Superintendent Laurelyn Arterbury said. “We are grateful for the partnership and support of our local law enforcement agencies.”
