Newsmakers for March 25: Generation Under Fire

Fort Bend ISD, HISD, NRA weigh in on debate over student safety

HOUSTON – As students across the country gather for the March for our Lives, Fort Bend Independent School District Superintendent Charles Dupre, a doctor of education, is a guest on this week’s "Houston Newsmakers" with Khambrel Marshall.

He says he supports his students’ ability to speak their minds.

“We want our students to have a voice, so I believe if we create learning opportunities for them that allow that voice to be heard, there’s no need for them to get up and walk out of a classroom unannounced to have that voice heard,” Dupre said. 

He said school safety starts and ends well before the focus is on locking doors.  

“We have to empower our students to feel safe going to adults to seek the help they need,” Dubre said.  "We can never forget, they may be 17 and 18 years old, but they’re children."

HISD works through budget concerns to focus on safety

Brian Busby is Houston Independent School District Chief Operating Officer and said safety is a No. 1 priority. He said he works hard to make sure school board members know what they must have to keep students safe.

“The board’s vision and goal in any budget process is to keep any reductions or any indirect effects away from the classroom, and obviously having police and safety is a direct impact to classrooms,” Busby said.

Paul Cordova is the HISD interim police chief and says an active shooter is his biggest concern but that regular training keeps an officer ready.

More from both on the challenges ahead.

NRA member says student protesters are being led astray

Kevin Fulton is a Houston attorney who recently ran and lost in his bid to represent state House District 126. He has not lost his zeal as a member of the National Rifle Association and on this week’s "Houston Newsmakers," said there are not too many guns in this country and that the students turning out for the March for our Lives are being used.

"There are political people who are using the kids in order for a political message and the kids don’t know that they’re being scapegoated,” he said.

Fulton talks about mental health issues, providing guns to school personnel and more on this week’s show.

Watch "Houston Newsmakers" with Khambrel Marshall on Sunday at 10:30 a.m.

More information 

Charles Dupre, Ed.D 

  • 281-634-1000
  • https://www.fortbendisd.com/domain/149
  • email: Charles.dupre@fortbendisd.com
  • Twitter: @Superdupre

Brian Busby, HISD chief operating officer

  • 713-556-6150
  • http://bit.ly/2GOFNbw
  • email: bbusby@houstonisd.org
  • Twitter: @HoustonISD

Paul Cordova, HISD interim police chief

  •  713-556-6000
  • http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/109141
  • Twitter: @HoustonISD 

Kevin Fulton, attorney, NRA member

  • 832-304-4329