The district’s board of trustees approved continuing the program as part of a “good cause” exception to state legislation regarding security officers during a July 28 meeting.
“Our exception is that we’re an exceptional district when it comes to safety and security,” CISD Superintendent Thomas Maglisceau said.
The background
CISD adopted the Guardian Program in December 2022, according to district documents.
The Texas School Guardian Program was developed in 2009 as an effort to have an armed defensive approach on school campuses, especially in rural areas where police response may be slower. Through the program, select school district employees are authorized to possess a firearm in schools and at school-sponsored or related events.
Texas legislators passed House Bill 3 during the 2023 legislative session, which mandates all schools within a district must have an armed security officer present during regular school hours.
Per the bill, a school security officer could be a:
- School district law enforcement officer
- School resource officer, or SRO
- Law enforcement officer commissioned to work for the district
While CISD does have school resource officers at each of its campuses, the district utilizes the Guardian Program in case an SRO is absent and the Celina Police Department is unable to send a replacement, district officials said. Each year, CISD officials must pass a resolution to approve the good cause exception to remain compliant with the state law.
"The good cause exception gives our district another level of security to ensure that we're keeping staff and students safe all the time while maintaining compliance under the law," said David Wilson, CISD's director of safe and secure schools.
