The details
According to district documents, the district was awarded a 2023-25 School Safety Standards Formula Grant in the amount of $1.15 million after submitting a needs assessment to the Texas Education Agency that determined the installation of security film was the district’s top priority across all campuses.
During his presentation to trustees, Mark Mahan, head of emergency management for the district, said the security film provides a layer of protection to building doors and windows for a prolonged period of time due to a forced entry attempt. It also protects students and staff inside the building from flying debris from severe weather events.
After soliciting bids from two vendors—Epic Solar Control and NGS—Mahan said Epic Solar Control was the firm selected for several reasons.
“Not only was Epic Solar Control the most economical cost option, they will provide customer service that goes above and beyond,” Mahan said. “They are also a local company that will be able to respond much quicker to warranty or repair issues that may arise.”
Diving in deeper
The weakest entry point is glass, and most schools, like those in Keller ISD, have only tempered glass installed in windows and door openings, Mahan explained. The product that will be used on all Keller ISD campuses is 3M Safety & Security Window Film and Attachment System that combines a film and adhesive to provide a protective barrier.
Mahan outlined the three key points of the product:
- It’s applied on the interior so it can’t be manipulated by an intruder and is safe from the elements.
- It holds glass fragments together, which reduces the risk of flying glass.
- The film is anchored to the window frame, which will delay intruders from gaining access to the building’s interior.
To get clarification about the product, Precinct 5 Trustee Chris Coker asked about the limits of security the film provides.
“In some of the school shootings in the past, they’ve shot through the side into the glass and walked through,” Coker said, “Is this designed to stop them or slow them down?”
In his response, Mahan said this type of product isn’t designed to stop a bullet.
“Nothing short of full-blown ballistic glass will stop all projectiles," Mahan said. "This is a system designed to slow the intruder down."
