HOUSTON – School safety and student health were front and center as Houston ISD leaders briefed the District Advisory Committee (DAC) on a growing list of measures aimed at protecting campuses across the district. DAC is comprised of nearly 40 community members, board members, school staff, and superintendent appointees.
District officials described a layered approach one that starts at the front door and extends all the way to classrooms, buses, and health offices.
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At the heart of those efforts are new security upgrades designed to slow down potential threats before they can escalate.
HISD Police Chief Shamara Garner told committee members that anti-intrusion window film has been installed on exterior doors and nearby glass panels, areas often considered vulnerable entry points. The film is built to hold shattered glass in place, delaying forced entry and giving schools precious time to initiate lockdown procedures while officers respond.
That delay, Garner said, can make a critical difference.
At the same time, HISD has expanded its use of weapon detection systems, which are now in place at every high school campus, including those shared with Houston Community College. The systems screen both students and visitors and, according to district police, are working as intended. While some items have been flagged, many cases involved adults who unintentionally brought prohibited items onto campus.
“The weapon detection systems have done what we expect them to do,” Garner said. “What has [happened] is because, you know, an adult forgot something was on them type thing, but other than that they have done what we expected them to do.”
The district hopes to build on that progress. Garner said her team has applied for grants to bring the same detection systems to middle schools and eventually elementary campuses.
Security staffing is also increasing. To meet requirements under House Bill 3, HISD has placed armed guards on campuses. Garner said there are 100-armed guards at elementary schools. These guards are not sworn police officers but are specially trained and licensed personnel who work alongside district police.
“Each year, the district will continue to add guards until all campuses are covered,” the chief told DAC.
In addition to security, HISD highlighted efforts to improve on-campus health resources.
- 256 campuses currently have a dedicated nurse
- 8 campuses share a nurse
- 9 campuses still have vacancies
Most HISD campuses now have a full-time nurse, though a small number still share staff or are working to fill vacancies with temporary hires. In emergencies, every campus is equipped with at least two automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, which are checked monthly to ensure they are ready if needed, officials said.
It is now state law that schools must have their campus AEDs inspected at the time of a fire safety inspection. Schools also must implement a cardiac emergency response plan.
The law, known as the Landon Payton Act, is named after the Marshall Middle School student who collapsed and died during a P.E. class in 2024.
Taken together, officials say these measures reflect a broader commitment: creating a school environment where safety systems work in tandem from prevention to response so students and staff can focus on learning.