Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISD said it is adding three school resource officers and increasing Schertz and Cibolo police campus patrols as part of larger efforts to shore up safety and security districtwide.
According to an Aug. 1 announcement by Superintendent Clark Ealy, SCUCISD will be implementing numerous suggestions made by a safety and security task force, which was formed a few days following the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which killed 19 students and two teachers.
Those suggestions include increasing the number of school resource officers from eight to 11 districtwide, Ealy said.
According to the National Association of School Resource Officers, school resource officers are sworn law enforcement officers with arrest powers, but they typically do not have specific types of training as uniformed personnel employed by a police department.
“Once hired, four of these positions are considered ‘rovers’ and will serve the 11 elementary and intermediate campuses daily,” Ealy said of the new officers in his school district.
SCUCISD does not have its own police department and instead partners with the Schertz and Cibolo police departments for added campus protection.
Ealy said police officers assigned by each city will enhance their presence at SCUCISD schools, but he did not share details about that expanded presence.
Ealy also said designated district employees will monitor school buildings on a daily basis to ensure exterior doors are locked and function properly at all times, per a task force suggestion.
Additionally, Cibolo and Schertz police officers will train all SCUCISD campus staffers, including substitute teachers, on standard response protocol, Ealy said.
SCUCISD is also extending perimeter fencing at Clemens High School and Corbett Junior High School to ensure all portable classroom buildings are fully protected, Ealy said.
The district is also completing the construction of redesigned security vestibules at Steele High School, Dobie Junior High School and Allison Steele Enhanced Learning Center this fall, Ealy said.
Additionally, Ealy said SCUCISD is increasing mental health and intervention support efforts as a preventive strategy, including additional counselors at Clemens and Steele, and boosting the district’s partnership with area mental health providers.
Ealy also shared tweaks and enhancements in existing safety measures, reminding parents, guardians and community members that all school visitors are required to present photo identification before being allowed into a district facility.
All seventh- through 12th-graders and district employees are required to visibly wear a photo ID badge all day and every day, according to the district. Ealy said district, regional and state agencies and officials will conduct random safety checks, and SCUCISD teachers will teach all emergency response drills according to standard response protocol.
Ealy also encouraged fifth- through 12th-graders and their families to use the P3 Campus anonymous reporting tool to report threats of violence or any other concerning behavior.
According to Ealy, SCUCISD will implement these and other safety and security steps before the start of the academic year Aug. 22 or during the school year.
“Our commitment to you is that we will remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure that these safety and security measures are in place and will respond quickly when we find vulnerabilities within our system,” Ealy added.
The August Northeast San Antonio Metrocom print edition of Community Impact Newspaper will contain a feature story that delves more into how SCUCISD and Judson ISD are working to strengthen security and safety at their respective campuses.
