HOUSTON – Students will return to class in a matter of weeks with safety on the top of many families’ minds.
Administrators with Deer Park ISD are taking steps to give parents, kids and educators peace of mind that students and faculty will be safe during the school day.
In direct response to the Uvalde school massacre, the district is adding armed police officers in uniform to all eight of its elementary schools.
It is something the school district has never done before.
Deer Park ISD is partnering with Deer Park Police and Pasadena Police because the district has campuses in both communities.
This will be an extra job for the officers, and the district’s superintendent said they are still ironing out the details.
Most likely, the officers will be in the front office area of each school where visitors come into the building.
“They’re going to have responsibilities of checking external doors and making sure they are closed properly. We are also going to ask them to be outside during recess time and be visible during times when kids are outside,” said Superintendent, Stephen Harrell.
On Wednesday, The Texas Rangers and law enforcement officials from a few different agencies in Galveston County held a symposium, hosted by the League City Chamber of Commerce to deliver a message about school safety. The discussion was moderated by KPRC 2 reporter Brandon Walker. They talked about how important their partnerships are, especially when it comes to training for something like an active shooter situation at a school.
Deer Park ISD already has armed officers at its secondary schools. The cost for the eight officers comes in at just over $500,000, the superintendent said.
“You can’t put a price tag on school safety and we’ll tighten up in other areas if we have to. This is something we are committed to,” Harrell said.