Nov 01, 2022 Board of Trustees Safety and Security Meeting

[00:00:01]

GOOD MORNING. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THIS MEETING TO ORDER.

[I. Call to Order and Determination of Quorum ]

I'M THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT OF SAFETY AND OPERATIONS FOR GARLAND ISD.

IT'S 11:31 A.M, AND I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE NOVEMBER 1ST MEETING OF THE GISD SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE TO ORDER.

THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE MANDATES EVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT HAVE A SAFETY COMMITTEE, TEXAS EDUCATION CODE AND GOVERNMENT CODE 551 GOVERN HOW THIS COMMITTEE IS RUN.

AT THIS TIME, DO WE HAVE ANY PUBLIC COMMENTS? THIS MEETING IS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHAPTER 551 GOVERNMENT CODE.

EXECUTIVE SESSION IS HELD FOR PURPOSES PERMITTED BY TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT.

I DO NOT BELIEVE WE'RE GOING TO NEED TO GO INTO AN EXECUTIVE SESSION IF I LOOK AT THE AGENDA CORRECTLY.

[III. Drills and Training Status – Shauntell Moore]

WOULD YOU LIKE TO TAKE IT, SIR? THANK YOU, DR. GARRETT.

TODAY WE'RE HERE TO TALK ABOUT THE TRAINING AND THE DRILLS THAT HAVE BEEN CONDUCTED THIS FIRST SEMESTER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AS APPROVED BY THE SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE TEAM ON THE 27TH.

AM I GOOD NOW? OKAY. SO HELLO AGAIN.

SO AS APPROVED BY THE DISTRICT SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE BACK ON JULY 27TH OF THIS YEAR, WE APPROVED A REQUIRED DRILL SCHEDULE.

SO THOSE DRILL SCHEDULES WERE FIRE EVACUATION, LOCKDOWN DRILL, WHICH WE IMPLEMENTED THE POLICE OFFICERS AND OUR TRI-CITY DEPARTMENTS, WHICH WE GOT GREAT FEEDBACK ON.

WE DID SECURE SHELTER FOR TORNADO RELOCATIONS HOLD, AND THEN WE DID OUR AUXILIARY BILL TRAININGS.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW THAT OUR STAFF AND ALL OUR CAMPUSES WENT THROUGH STANDARD RESPONSE PROTOCOL TRAINING, WHICH WAS GREAT.

THIS YEAR WE HAD GREAT FEEDBACK.

IN LIGHT OF EVERYTHING THAT'S GOING ON, STANDARD RESPONSE HAS BEEN AWESOME.

SO EVERYBODY IS REALLY TAKING THAT SERIOUS AND WE'RE SO EXCITED.

WE'RE EXCITED TO SAY OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH STUDENT SERVICES IS GOING WELL AND WITH THE FACE PROGRAM, THE FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM, WE HAVE A VIDEO THAT WE PUT OUT ABOUT OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS OUR STANDARD RESPONSE, AND THEY HAVE MADE SURE THAT THEY PUT IT OUT ON THEIR FACEBOOK PLATFORM IN SPANISH, ENGLISH AND VIETNAMESE, AND THEY RUN THAT MONTHLY.

SO THAT HAS BEEN AWESOME.

ALSO, WE PARTNERED WITH STUDENT SERVICES AND OUR GARLAND PTA, AND WE'VE BEEN HOSTING PARENT ENGAGEMENT TRAININGS AND VOLUNTEER TRAININGS FOR ALL OUR VOLUNTEERS TO JUST HAVE AN EXPECTATION OF WHAT TO DO ON OUR CAMPUSES WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING ON.

WE ARE CURRENTLY IN OUR TABLETOP EXERCISE SEASON WHERE WE GO BACK TO THE CAMPUSES TO WHERE WE MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSE FOR ANYTHING THAT WE HAVE THAT IS WHOLE SECURE LOCKDOWN, SHELTER OR EVACUATION, AND THOSE SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY NOVEMBER 15TH OF THIS MONTH, AND AS ALWAYS, WE'VE BEEN PUSHING OUT TO EVERYBODY OUT FOR BASIC PRINCIPLES.

WE JUST WANT TO CONSTANTLY REMIND EVERYBODY TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU POSITIVELY ENGAGE OUR VISITORS.

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING.

SOUND ALARM. WE ESPECIALLY PUSH OUT TEACH WITH THE CLASSROOM DOORS LOCKED AND SECURE, AND ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS RESPOND TO THE GREATER THREAT.

THANK YOU, MR. MOORE. THE NEXT TWO BULLETS.

MARK QUINN. OH, I'M SORRY.

THANK YOU. ANY DISCUSSION? MR. GLICK? YEAH.

I'VE HAD A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE TABLETOPS.

COULD YOU MAYBE GO INTO SOME MORE DETAIL ABOUT WHAT THOSE ENTAIL? THANK YOU. YES, SIR.

SO, A TABLETOP.

WHAT WE DO, WE GO TO THE CAMPUS CRISIS TEAM AND WE SEND THEM THROUGH SCENARIOS.

SO WE ASK THEM WHAT THEIR FUNCTION, WHAT THEIR ROLE ARE ON THEIR CAMPUS IN CASE OF A CRISIS.

FOR AN EXAMPLE, IF WE HAD TO GO INTO A HOLE FOR A MEDICAL EMERGENCY, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTACTING THE EMTS AND SECURITY DEPARTMENT, WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING SURE THAT WE HAVE ALL OUR VISITORS INTACT AND IN THE SAFE LOCATION? WHO IS THE PRINCIPAL OR THE AP THAT'S GOING TO ASSUME THE INCIDENT COMMANDER POSITION UNTIL SECURITY OR SOMEBODY GET THERE.

SO THEY GO THROUGH THOSE SCENARIOS THROUGH THEIR CRISIS GROUP, SINCE THEY ARE THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE ON THOSE CAMPUSES AND THEN THEY ASSIST US, THAT'S HOW THEY ASSIST US.

SO AT ANY ONE OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS, HOW MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE ON THE TEAM? WE TYPICALLY HAVE ANYWHERE BETWEEN 8 TO 12 PEOPLE ON A CRISIS TEAM, AND WHEN YOU APPROACH THEM, IS IT A SUBJECT THAT THEY'RE NOT AWARE OF WHAT THE SUBJECT IS GOING TO BE FOR YOUR EXERCISE? WE WE HAVE A STANDARD POWERPOINT THAT WE UTILIZE, BUT WE DO THROW IN SOME GLITCH, SOME CHANGES UP TO JUST TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THEM THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX.

BUT WE NORMALLY HAVE A STANDARD POWERPOINT THAT WE UTILIZE, AND HOW LONG DOES EACH OF THOSE EXERCISES LAST? 30 TO 45 MINUTES, AND YOU SAID YOU'LL BE DONE WITH ALL THE TABLETOPS IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS.

[00:05:05]

OKAY. THANK YOU.

THANK YOU. MS. GARRETT.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION?

[IV. TEA Mandated Exterior Door Checks – Mark Quinn]

I AM HERE TO TALK ABOUT TEA MANDATED EXTERIOR DOOR CHECKS.

SO BECAUSE OF THE TRAGEDY IN UVALDE, THE TEXAS SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER AND THE DEA MANDATED SOME SUMMER ITEMS THAT EVERY DISTRICT IN THE STATE OF TEXAS NEEDED TO PUT INTO EFFECT.

ONE OF THOSE IS THE EXTERIOR DOOR CHECKS.

SO THESE EXTERIOR DOOR CHECKS ARE CONDUCTED BY SECURITY AND THEY'RE ALSO CONDUCTED BY SROS.

SO THAT IS BASICALLY EVERY EXTERIOR DOOR ON EACH CAMPUS HAS TO BE CHECKED AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK AND VERIFY THAT IT IS LOCKED AND SECURED, AND ANY NOTES ABOUT BROKEN ITEMS, NONFUNCTIONING ITEMS ARE NOTATED AND PUT INTO A REVIEW FORM AND THEN CORRECTED.

SO THESE EXTERIOR SWEEPS ENSURES EVERY EXTERIOR DOOR IS CLOSED AND LOCKED AT EVERY INSTRUCTIONAL FACILITY AT LEAST ONCE EACH WEEK WHILE INSTRUCTION IS BEING CONDUCTED, AND THAT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT THOSE DOORS HAVE TO BE CHECKED WHILE INSTRUCTION IS BEING GIVEN.

YOU KNOW, OUR DEEP NIGHT GUYS DON'T GO OUT AND DO IT.

OUR EVENINGS GUYS DON'T DO IT.

IT'S DONE DURING THE DAYS WHILE KIDS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE CAMPUSES.

IT IS CURRENTLY, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE PERFORM THOSE EXTERIOR SWEEPS IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE SROS.

SO THE SROS ON CAMPUS, THEY'RE ACTUALLY CHECKING MORE THAN ONCE A WEEK, BUT IT'S MANDATED THAT IT'S CHECKED ONCE A WEEK.

WE CREATED AN EXTERIOR DOOR DATABASE IN SECURITY.

IT'S VERY COMPREHENSIVE.

IT TRACKS WHEN THE DOOR WAS CHECKED, IT ACTUALLY TIMESTAMPS WHO THE OFFICER WAS THAT CHECKED IT, WHETHER IT'S SRO, WHETHER IT'S GISD SECURITY.

SO IT'LL TIME STAMP THAT.

IT NOTES ANY DEFICIENCIES.

THERE'S A NOTE TAKING SECTION WHERE YOU CAN TELL IF THERE'S SOMETHING BROKEN ON THE DOOR OR ACTUALLY IF A DOOR WAS EVEN PROPPED, THE RESPONSE THAT WE THAT WE DID FOR A PROPPED DOOR, LIKE WE INSTRUCTED THE CAFETERIA WORKER OR WHOEVER, HEY, YOU CAN'T HAVE THIS DOOR, LET'S KEEP THIS CLOSED.

SO THAT'S NOTATED IN THERE ALSO, AND THEN A RESOLUTION TO ANY ISSUE.

SO IF WE SEE BROKEN ITEMS, WE NOTATE IN THERE THAT A WORK ORDER WAS MADE TO CORRECT THAT DEFICIENCY IN THE DOOR.

WE MAINTAIN THAT DATABASE CURRENTLY.

SO THERE IS A COMPREHENSIVE EXTERNAL DOOR DATABASE THAT IS BEING BUILT ACTUALLY IT'S ALREADY BUILT BY MAINTENANCE AND IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF GIS. THEY'RE CREATING IT, WHICH IS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE DOOR DATABASE THAT TELLS YOU COMPOSITION OF THE DOOR, INWARD OR OUTWARD OPENING MECHANICS, WHETHER IT'S A CRASH BAR HANDLE AND EVERYTHING LIKE THAT ON AN EXTERIOR DOOR, THIS DATABASE WILL TELL.

GIS IS IN THE PROCESS OF BUILDING THAT, AND WHEN THEY'RE DONE WITH THAT, THEY'RE GOING TO INCORPORATE OUR EXTERIOR DOOR DATABASE IN WITH THIS WITH THE WITH THE COMPOSITION DATABASE.

SO ONCE THAT'S ALL DONE, THEN THOSE EXTERIOR DOORS CAN BE CHECKED ON AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL AND MAINTAINED AT THE CAMPUS LEVEL.

SO THAT'S IT ON EXTERIOR DOORS, QUESTIONS ON EXTERIOR DOORS OR DOOR CHECKS.

MR. QUINN, COULD YOU PLEASE GO OVER ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF CAMPUSES THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN CHECKED BY TEA, AND ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN SHARE IN PUBLIC ABOUT THOSE FINDINGS? I CAN, I'M GOING TO GO OVER INTRUSION AUDITS RIGHT NOW.

[V. TEA and GISD Intrusion Audits – Juston Coffman]

THOSE INTRUSION AUDITS ARE CONDUCTED ON OUR END BY A SECURITY OFFICER IN PLAINCLOTHES.

SO WHAT OUR GUY GOES, HE GOES OUT, HE IS IN PLAINCLOTHES.

HE FIRST TRIES TO GET IN THE EXTERIOR OF BUILDINGS.

HE'S CHECKING DOORS TO VERIFY THAT THEY'RE LOCKED.

IF HE CAN GET IN, HE WILL GO IN AND JUST WALK THE HALLS AND SEE HOW LONG IT TAKES TEACHERS, STAFF, WORKERS TO IDENTIFY HIM AND FIND OUT WHO HE IS.

YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE OFFICER MOORE SAID, WE WANT TO POSITIVELY IDENTIFY ANY VISITORS IN THE SCHOOL.

SO IF HE IS IDENTIFIED, THEY WILL TAKE HIM TO THE FRONT OFFICE AND GET HIM PROPERLY CHECKED IN.

IF HE'S NOT, HE WILL WALK THE HALL UNTIL HE'S CONTACTED.

HE'LL IDENTIFY HIMSELF, AND THEN HE'LL CONTINUE THE AUDIT.

SO HE'S ALSO AS HE'S WALKING THROUGH THE CAMPUS, HE'S CHECKING CLASSROOM DOORS AGAIN IN ONE OF OUR ANOTHER ONE OF OUR SAFETY TENDENCIES.

MAKE SURE YOU TEACH WITH THE CLASSROOM DOORS CLOSED AND LOCKED, WE'RE CHECKING THOSE CLASSROOM DOORS TO VERIFY THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY LOCKED WHILE INSTRUCTIONS BEING GIVEN.

SO WE'RE CHECKING CLASSROOM DOORS, WE'RE CHECKING EXTERIOR DOORS.

WE'RE VERIFYING THAT WE ARE IDENTIFIED AS A STRANGER WHEN WE'RE ON CAMPUS.

ONCE ALL THAT'S DONE, THAT AUDIT IS COMPLETE, THEN THAT SECURITY OFFICER WILL SIT DOWN WITH THE PRINCIPAL AND KIND OF GO OVER THE FINDINGS.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS NOT A I GOTCHA.

THIS IS KIND OF A TEACHING MOMENT FOR THE PRINCIPALS IF THERE'S ANY DEFICIENCIES FOUND.

SO ON THE TEA END, THEY ACTUALLY CONDUCT THEIR AUDITS SIMILAR TO OURS.

SO THERE'S ACTUALLY A SEQUENCE OF EVENTS THAT THESE TEA AND REGION TEN AUDITORS GO THROUGH.

[00:10:05]

IF THEY'RE NOT LOCKED, THEY'LL NOTATE THE DOOR, MAKE NOTE ON THEIR ON THEIR FORM, AND THEN THEY'LL WHAT THEY'LL DO IS THEY'LL COME TO THE FRONT OFFICE, CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATORS. ONCE THEY CONTACT THE ADMINISTRATORS, THEY'LL LET THEM KNOW THAT, A, THEY DID NOT FIND AN EXTERIOR DOOR LOCKED OR UNLOCKED OR B, THEY DID, AND THIS IS THE ONE THAT THEY FOUND. SO THEN THEY'LL GO, THEY'LL CHECK THE REST OF THE EXTERIOR DOORS.

THEN THEY WILL ARBITRARILY WALK THROUGH THE CAMPUS AND RANDOMLY CHECK CLASSROOM DOORS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE LOCKED DURING INSTRUCTION.

ONCE THEY'VE GONE OVER THAT EVALUATION, THEY SIT DOWN WITH THE PRINCIPAL.

THEY PROVIDE A GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS RIGHT THERE TO THE PRINCIPAL.

THAT PRINCIPAL IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SENDING THAT GENERAL FUNDING TO THE SUPERINTENDENTS OFFICE, AND THEN THEY WILL PROVIDE A FORMAL REPORT.

I BELIEVE IT'S FIVE OR SIX DAYS AFTER THE VISIT WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION IF NEEDED, IF THERE'S ANY CORRECTIVE ACTION TO BE TAKEN, AND THAT'S HOW THE AUDITS WORK.

HOW MANY CAMPUSES HAVE BEEN AUDITED? WE HAVE HAD SIX AUDITS ON CAMPUSES SO FAR, AND I WILL [INAUDIBLE] RESULTS.

YEAH, SO WE GOT SIX AUDITED CAMPUSES AND WE ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE ALL 72 AUDITED BY HOW MANY BY WHAT TIME NOW? WELL, WE ARE CONSTANTLY AUDITING.

NO, NO, THIS IS TEA'S AUDITS.

I HAVEN'T HEARD DATES ON WHEN WE'RE GOING, AND I THOUGHT WE HAD MORE THAN SIX AUDITED BY TEA.

I CAN DOUBLE CHECK THOSE NUMBERS, BUT I THINK I'VE GOT SIX AUDITS COMPLETED BY TEA.

I CAN DOUBLE CHECK. OKAY.

THANK YOU. I THINK IT'S WORTHY OF NOTE THAT IF A DISTRICT HAS A POLICY IS HOW IT'S WORDED FROM REGION TEN AND TEA IF THE POLICY THAT'S LOCAL OR LEGAL SAYS KEEPING YOUR CLASSROOM DOORS LOCKED, IF YOU HAVE A POLICY THAT SAYS WE KEEP OUR CLASSROOM DOORS LOCKED, THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL THEY CHECK YOUR CLASSROOM DOORS TO SEE IF THEY'RE LOCKED.

WE DO NOT HAVE IN LOCAL OR LEGAL, BUT SINCE IT IS OUR PRACTICE FOR SEVERAL YEARS, DR.

LOPEZ FELT STRONGLY THAT, YEAH, IT'S A POLICY.

IT MAY NOT BE IN LOCAL OR LEGAL YET, BUT WE'RE GOING TO CONSIDER IT A POLICY.

WE WANT YOU ALL AND WELCOME YOU ALL TO CHECK OUR CLASSROOM DOORS TO SEE IF THEY'RE LOCKED.

THAT IS REALLY GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND.

THERE'S ONLY ONE OTHER DISTRICT THAT I KNOW OF IN REGION TEN THAT IS DOING THAT AS WELL.

THAT IS WORKING AS IF IT IS IN POLICY ALREADY, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT EVEN A REGULATION YET, BUT I CONSIDER OURS A REGULATION BECAUSE IT IS IN WRITING, IT'S ON A DOOR POSTER AND WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

SO I APPRECIATE THAT.

I HAD ONE QUESTION FOR YOU, MARK, NOT TO PUT YOU ON THE SPOT, BUT I RECALL WHEN THE REGION TEN FIELD AUDIT THE RULES CAME AND THEY SAID, WE'RE GOING TO GO TO THE CAMPUS, WE'RE GOING TO CHECK THE THREE EXTERIOR DOORS.

WE'LL SHOW THE PRINCIPAL OUR ID SO THEY WON'T THINK WE'RE A THREAT.

AND THEN WE HAVE TO SEE AT THE CAMPUS THE WEEKLY EXTERIOR DOOR CHECKLIST.

YES, AND SINCE SECURITY IS THE KEEPER OF THAT DATABASE, HOW ARE WE ABLE TO PROVIDE THAT TO THE CAMPUS? WE ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE IT WITH ACCESS TO THE GOOGLE DOC THAT WE CREATED, BUT ONCE GIS COMPLETES THEIR INTEGRATION OF OUR WEEKLY SWEEPS INTO THEIR DATABASE, THEN THAT WILL FALL ON THE CAMPUS LEVEL.

THANKS. ANY MORE DISCUSSION.

MR. GLICK. GOVERNOR ABBOTT JUST ANNOUNCED ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE GOING TO BE SPENT ON DIFFERENT AREAS OF SECURITY.

I KNOW SOME WERE TO ACTUALLY REBUILD THE SCHOOL IN UVALDE, BUT IT SAID A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT WAS GOING TO GO TO SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN TEXAS.

HAVE WE HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THAT? IS IT A GRANT OR ARE WE APPLYING FOR THAT GRANT? THINGS OF THAT NATURE.

MARK AND I RECEIVED THE SAME EMAIL YOU PROBABLY RECEIVED AND I WENT TO THE TEA WEBSITE AND THERE ARE NO SPECIFICATIONS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS STRINGS, BUT I'M HAPPY TO PULL IT STRINGS.

I JUST DON'T KNOW. I DOUBT SERIOUSLY IT'LL BE FOR MANPOWER.

IT NEVER IS, BUT IF IT'S FOR STUFF WE'RE HAPPY TO BUY, STUFF.

WE HAVE A LIST OF STUFF WE WOULD LOVE FOR THEM TO BUY FOR US.

ANY OTHER DISCUSSION.

MR. QUINN, IS THAT ALL YOU HAD ON THE TEA AND GISD INTRUSION AUDITS? YES, MA'AM. SO, MICHAEL PEARCE.

[VI. StopIT App and BTA Program – Michael Pierce, Mark Quinn]

ONE WAS ANONYMOUS ALERTS TWO WAS THE STOPIT APP, AND THREE WAS THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT PROGRAM.

JUST BRIEFLY ON THE STOPIT APP, IT'S ACTUALLY TERMED THE 911 DIRECT PANIC ESCALATION APP.

IT'S A CLOUD BASED APP.

WE HOPE TO BE USED BY ALL STAFF MEMBERS THAT WILL INSTANTLY ALERT ASSIGNED USERS OF A NEED

[00:15:08]

BY THE PUSH OF A BUTTON, ALERTS ARE SENT TO THOSE SPECIFIC USERS WITHIN THE CAMPUS OR YOUR BUILDING DETAILING YOUR SITUATION, YOUR LOCATION, AND OR YOUR NEED.

THE APPLICATION COMES WITH PRELOADED EVENT TYPES.

FOR EXAMPLE, FIRE, SUSPICIOUS PERSON, DOG ON THE PLAYGROUND, ETC, AND THESE SPECIFIC EVENT TYPES THAT ARE CUSTOMIZABLE.

SO WE'RE WORKING TO CHOOSE EVENT TYPES THAT ARE APPLICABLE TO US AND GET THOSE OVER TO THE VENDOR THEY PROVIDED A LIST HALF OF WHICH ARE NOT APPLICABLE, BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH THEM TO GET THOSE SPECIFIC EVENT TYPES THAT ARE PERTINENT OR SITUATIONS. THE APP IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL THAT WILL ALLOW REAL TIME COMMUNICATION AND COLLABORATION AROUND THE GIVEN SITUATION FOR OUR STAFF . IN ADDITION TO THIS PERTINENT INFORMATION, YOU CAN ALSO ADD NEEDED INFORMATION SUCH AS IF YOU PUSH THE EVENT TYPE MEDICAL EMERGENCY, YOU CAN ADD EVENT OR OTHER INFORMATION SUCH AS CHEST PAIN, GRAB THE AED, CALL THE NURSE SO THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS OR THOSE SPECIFIC ASSIGNED USERS CAN MAKE BETTER DECISIONS EN ROUTE TO YOUR LOCATION.

THE EVENTS ARE STORED YOU CAN UPLOAD MEDIA EVENTS ARE STORED STORED.

ALL ACTIONS ARE STORED.

YOUR COMMUNICATIONS ARE STORED JUST IN CASE A REPORT IS NEEDED, AND IT'S A PHONE BASED APP WE HOPE TO PUSH OUT TO ALL STAFF MEMBERS, AND HOPEFULLY WE HOPE TO HAVE THAT ONLINE COME JANUARY.

IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT PROGRAM OR THE STOPIT APP? I HAVE A QUESTION. YOU SAID IT'S PHONE BASED, SO THE INTENT IS FOR THEM TO PUT IT ON THEIR PERSONAL PHONES.

YES, MA'AM. WHAT ABOUT THE PARTS OF BUILDINGS THAT ARE DEAD TO CELL PHONES? WELL, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL THAT WE CAN USE.

YOU HAVE DESK PHONES IN YOUR CLASSROOM THAT YOU CAN IMMEDIATELY REACH OUR DISPATCH CENTER.

YOU CAN ALSO CALL 911.

WE HAVE THE BARE COMM RADIOS.

THERE ARE OTHER MEANS OF NOTIFICATION IF NEED BE.

THIS IS JUST ANOTHER TOOL.

ALSO WI FI, IF YOUR PHONE IS CONNECTED TO THE WI FI AND THE WI FI IS AVAILABLE, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE ACCESS TO THIS.

THE CAVEAT TO ALL OF THIS, I'M GOING TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, WE'RE VERY RELIANT ON TECHNOLOGY AND HAVE WE ALL HAD EXPERIENCE THAT THE TIME WE NEED TECHNOLOGY THE MOST, IT FAILS US. RIGHT, AND I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND THAT NOW WE HAVE LIKE NETWORK CENTERS WHERE EVERYTHING IS HOUSED IN ONE PLACE.

SO IF OUR NETWORK CENTER GOES DOWN, DOWN GOES OUR WI FI, DOWN GOES OUR AIR DOWN, GOES OUR PHONE SYSTEMS DOWN GOES A LOT OF THE ESSENTIAL NEEDS TO OPERATE A CAMPUS, AND SO PROTECTING OUR WI FI SYSTEMS AND EVERYTHING ELSE IS ALWAYS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AN INTRUSION ALERT THAT YOU NEED IT, BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS IN WEST TEXAS A LOT: OUR WEATHER.

IF THE WEATHER KNOCKS OUT OUR NETWORKING SYSTEMS, WE'RE DOWN WITH ALL OF THAT, AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF THOSE TWO HAPPENING TOGETHER IS HIGH.

WE KIND OF SAW THAT WITH THE SNOWSTORM, BUT THINK OF HOW THAT CAN COME IN WITH ANY TYPE OF SEVERE WEATHER STORM WARNING THAT COMES INTO OUR AREA.

IT COULD KNOCK OUT ALL OUR STUFF REALLY QUICKLY.

SO THOSE ARE THE THINGS WE HAVE TO BE AWARE OF AS WE'RE HARDENING OUR INFRASTRUCTURE WITHIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK OF ALL THIS HARDENING WITH DIFFERENT TYPES OF INTRUSION STUFF, AND ALTHOUGH THIS IS DEALING WITH THE STOPIT APP AND EVERYTHING ELSE, BUT PART OF HARDENING IS OUR INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE SURE IT CAN WITHSTAND EXTREME HEAT WHEN THE ELECTRIC GRID IS AT COMPROMISE, WHEN YOU SEE THE ELECTRIC GRID AT COMPROMISE, MY EYE TWITCHES BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS FOR EVERY SCHOOL IN OUR DISTRICT.

IF WE HAVE EXTREME COLD, MY EYE TWITCHES.

WHEN IT STARTS THUNDERING, ALL OF THOSE THINGS COMPROMISE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF THE TECHNOLOGY.

SO YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT THAT WHAT HAPPENS WE NEED THOSE WI FI SYSTEMS UP SO EVERYBODY COULD ALWAYS AT ANY POINT HAVE ACCESS TO THESE THINGS, AND SO THAT'S PART OF THE SECURITY THAT PEOPLE IN THE 21ST CENTURY HAVE TO NOW BECOME COMFORTABLE WITH, IS THOSE TYPE OF ASPECTS TO KEEP OUR SCHOOLS SAFE, AND I WOULD ADD ON TO THAT THAT TWO LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS AGO, EDUCATION CODE CHANGED AND SAID YOU SHALL HAVE IN EVERY CLASSROOM A PANIC ESCALATION DEVICE,

[00:20:06]

THAT SOUNDS VERY HIGH TECH.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO? AND THEN THE RECOMMENDATION THAT CAME DOWN FROM THAT WAS TO HAVE A HARDWIRED TELEPHONE TELEPHONE IN EVERY ROOM, AND SO WE WERE PRETTY GOOD WITH THAT RESPECT, AND THEN THERE WAS CLARISSA'S LAW OR [INAUDIBLE] LAW THAT ALSO SAID THAT WHEN YOU DIAL 911 FROM A PHONE, YOU DON'T HAVE TO DIAL NINE FIRST TO GET OUT BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE DIALING 9911, AND THAT'S NOT A NATURAL THING FOR HUMANS.

WE'RE USED TO 911.

SO THEN WE UPDATED TO THAT AND I LOVE THIS EXTRA LAYER.

I TRULY DO, AND I'M GLAD THAT A GRANT IS PAYING FOR IT, BUT THE HARD LINE PHONE TRULY IS WHAT WORKS WHEN EVERYTHING GOES TO HECK IS TO HAVE THAT HARDWIRED PHONE AND YOU DIAL 911, AND OUR DISPATCH KNOWS INSTANTLY WHEN WE DO THAT.

SO ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? THANKS, TRACY. OH, MR. GLICK, I'M SORRY. WE HAD OUR STATE CONVENTION RECENTLY, AND IN THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT SECURITY, ONE OF THE AREAS GETTING MORE AND MORE PUBLICITY FOR IMPORTANCE IS WHAT WE HAVE.

THE SECOND TOPIC HERE, WHICH WE HAVEN'T REALLY DISCUSSED, IS THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT.

SO COULD WE TALK MORE ABOUT THAT, WHAT WE'RE DOING THAT'S BEFORE THE FACT, NOT AFTER THE FACT.

SURE, A BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT, WHICH I GOT TO HELP IMPLEMENT WHEN I FIRST GOT HERE; IT WAS ALREADY IN PROCESS.

THIS GENIUS, CYNTHIA RODRIGUEZ, WHO WORKS FOR GARLAND ISD, PUT IT INTO A FORMAT THAT IS LOVELY AND ONLINE AND IT'S A FLUID DOCUMENT.

SO FIRST OF ALL, YOU DO A SCREENER, DO WE EVEN NEED TO GO FURTHER? SO YOU HAVE TO ANSWER TWO PAGES OF QUESTIONS.

IS THIS REALLY THE TIME TO DO THIS? GOING FURTHER INTO IT, YOU HAVE ALL THESE PEOPLE AT THE TABLE, MUCH LIKE THE CRISIS TEAM.

IN FACT, USUALLY THE SAME MEMBERS ARE ON THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM, BUT YOU CAN ADD WHOEVER YOU WANT TO BECAUSE THE LUNCH LADY MIGHT BE THE CLOSEST TO THE KID AND MIGHT HEAR AND KNOW MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE, AND I ASSURE YOU, THE RECEPTIONIST KNOWS EVERYTHING.

SHE SHOULD BE ON EVERY BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT YOU GET IN A ROOM AND YOU START FINDING OUT INFORMATION, AND THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.

I'LL JUST GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE THAT'S NOT REAL.

YOU GET IN THE SAME ROOM AND REALIZE HE LOOKED REALLY DIFFERENT WHEN HE CAME BACK TO SCHOOL FROM THE SUMMER.

LIKE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON.

ISN'T THAT WEIRD? YOU TALK TO HIS PROBATION OFFICER, YOU TALK TO HIS MOTHER, HIS COUSIN, THE RECEPTIONIST WHO OVERHEARD THE MOTHER SAY HE JUST CAME OUT OF GREEN OAKS FOR THE THIRD TIME OR HE GOT [INAUDIBLE] LAST WEEK, AND WE KNOW THAT HE'S BEEN GETTING MENTAL HEALTH HELP.

THEN YOU FIND OUT SO MANY THINGS FROM SO MANY PEOPLE, THE POLICE, PROBATION OFFICERS, THE SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

YOU PUT ALL THAT IN THIS DOCUMENT AT THE VERY END OF IT, IT IS 27 PAGES LONG.

YOU DETERMINE, IS THIS A HIGH LEVEL, MEDIUM LEVEL, LOW LEVEL? WHAT DO WE NEED TO DO? IT INCLUDES A SAFETY PLAN AND YOU CAN TAKE WHATEVER ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.

LIKE THAT PERSON MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO EVER BRING A BACKPACK INTO THE SCHOOL EVER AGAIN.

HE MIGHT COME 5 MINUTES EARLY IN HIS MOM, COME INTO THE SCHOOL WITH HIM AND HAND-DELIVER HIM TO US.

WE MIGHT WAND HIM EVERY DAY.

WE MIGHT GIVE HIM EXTRA COUNSELING AND SUPPORT EVERY DAY.

WE MIGHT FIND LOTS OF RESOURCES FOR HIM, EVEN ON THE WEEKEND, TO HELP HIM.

THE SAFETY PLAN. I ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS BECAUSE WE JUST MET WITH LEGAL COUNSEL ABOUT A SITUATION.

THIS THIS MAKES ME HAPPY FOR SCHOOLS.

WE USED TO BE LIKE, WELL, THAT HAPPENED ON THE WEEKEND.

IT WAS A SOCIAL MEDIA THREAT, FIRST AMENDMENT.

WE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

WELL, OUR LEGAL COUNSEL THE OTHER DAY SAID THAT WHAT THE CASE LAW IS SAYING AT THE MOMENT, HOW IT'S COMING DOWN, IS ON THE SIDE OF SCHOOLS WHERE IF I NEEDED FOR YOU TO STAY HOME AS PART OF THE SAFETY PLAN TODAY, IT'S NOT A DISCIPLINE OUT OF SCHOOL SUSPENSION.

I NEED FOR YOU TO STAY HOME TODAY AND WE'RE GOING TO CALL YOU THIS AFTERNOON.

WE'RE GOING TO SET UP A ZOOM MEETING BECAUSE WE THINK YOU'RE A DANGER TO YOURSELF OR OTHERS.

WE CAN DO THAT. WE CAN DO THAT.

IT HAS TO BE WE HAVE TO SHOW WE DID A BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT AND AT THE END, WE NEED A SAFETY PLAN RIGHT THIS MINUTE, AND THAT THAT HELD UP IN COURT.

I THINK THAT'S ALL I HAD.

ANY ADDITIONS TO THAT? I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY, DR.

GARRETT, THAT, YOU KNOW, BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT CAME DOWN THROUGH SENATE BILL 11, WHICH REQUIRES TO HAVE A CAMPUS APP COUNSELOR AND SRO INVOLVED IN IT.

SO IT'S INITIALLY FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO COMMIT A CRIME OR HARM SOMEBODY ON CAMPUS OR HARM THEMSELVES ON CAMPUS.

SO HERE IN SECURITY, WE MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE THEIR BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT TEAM TRAINED UP DUE TO TAKE SCHOOL SAFETY CENTER.

THEY HAVE A BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT TRAINING.

EVERYBODY IS REQUIRED TO GO TO THEIR TRAINING.

ONCE THEY GO TO THEIR TRAINING AND THEY HAVE A SITUATION LIKE DR.

GARRETT SAID, SOMEBODY THAT'S PERTINENT TO THE SITUATION CAN BE INVOLVED, BUT THE CORE GROUP IS THE AP, THE COUNSELOR AND SRO.

NOW, WHEN IT COMES TO THE BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT AND ACTUALLY DOING THE SCREENING PROCESS OF THAT THREAT ASSESSMENT, YOU HAVE TO GO BY THE FACTS, AND WE KNOW WE'RE HUMAN

[00:25:07]

SO WHAT WE DID HERE IN SECURITY, WE ASSIST OUR CAMPUSES.

SO CINDY RODRIGUEZ, WHO'S AN AWESOME YOUNG LADY, HELPS US OUT, AND PLUS, MARK QUINN, WE DID A VIDEO TO WHERE WE DID A VOICEOVER, WHICH HELPS WALK THEM THROUGH THE THREAT ASSESSMENT. NOT ONLY DO WE GO OUT AND ASSIST THEM WHEN THEY ASK US TO, BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY HAVE THE TOOLS THAT THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THE THREAT ASSESSMENT BECAUSE LIKE IT'S BEEN THREE OR FOUR YEARS IN THIS NEW AND JUST LIKE THEY ARE TRYING TO GO TO A BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT PROCESS OF IT NOW STARTED THIS YEAR. SO THAT'S THE REASON WHY OUR STUDENT SERVICES, WHO ARE BEHAVIORAL SPECIALISTS, BECAUSE IN SECURITY, WE'RE NOT THE BEHAVIOR SPECIALIST.

THAT'S THE REASON WHY [INAUDIBLE] COUNSELOR.

THEY HAVE THE RESPONSIVE SERVICE COUNSELORS BECAUSE THEY DO KNOW ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.

THEY DO KNOW MY SOCIAL EMOTIONAL.

SO IT'S A REAL POCKET RIGHT NOW WITH THIS BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT THAT WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON.

AND WE BELIEVE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT IS DOING THE BEST BEHAVIOR THREAT ASSESSMENT AROUND THE DISTRICT BECAUSE WE ARE UP ON WHAT'S GOING ON THESE CAMPUSES, AND OUR ADMINISTRATION HAS TAKEN IT AND THEY'RE RUNNING WITH IT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY GOT IT IN SKYWARD TO WHERE THEY CAN HAVE ACCESS TO THOSE FORMS TO COMPLETE ANYTHING THAT THEY NEED TO COMPLETE.

THE ONLY THING THAT WAS SOMEWHAT DISCONCERTING ABOUT WHAT YOU SAID IS THIS MULTI, MULTI PAGE DOCUMENT THAT HAS TO SO DOES THAT HAVE TO BE COMPLETED BEFORE YOU CAN TAKE ANY ACTION OR JUST EXPLAIN IT? I KNOW THAT SOUNDS DAUNTING.

IT'S NOT. IT'S NOT.

THERE'S A SECTION THAT HAS CHECKMARKS.

I JUST WAS REVISING AND WHEN I SAY REVISE, I ALSO WANT TO SAY THIS AND THEY TRAIN THEM IN THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT TRAINING.

THIS IS A FLUID DOCUMENT.

YOU DON'T DO ONE ON JOHNNY BECAUSE HE DID SOMETHING WEIRD OR THREATENING AND THEN DO ANOTHER ONE ON JOHNNY NEXT MONTH WHEN HE DID SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

IT'S ONE DOCUMENT BECAUSE TO SEE THE PATHWAY TO VIOLENCE WE CAN'T EXPUNGE, WE EXPUNGE DISCIPLINE.

EVERY YEAR. IT'S TABULA RASA.

YOU GET TO START WITH A CLEAN SLATE.

THIS IS NOT THAT.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE BULLYING.

I CAN'T TELL YOU IF IT WAS PERVASIVE, PERSISTENT AND HAPPENED OVER TIME.

IF I ERASE IT EVERY YEAR.

MAYBE YOU HAVE BEEN BULLYING THAT LITTLE GIRL SINCE THIRD GRADE AND NOW YOU'RE IN THE 10TH GRADE.

BUT HOW AM I GOING TO PROVE IT? YOU ERASED THE DISCIPLINE RECORD.

SO THIS IS A FLUID DOCUMENT, AND SO HE DID THIS THING VERY THREATENING OR HE SUFFOCATED THE FAMILY DOG.

OKAY, AND THAT COMES TO OUR ATTENTION COMBINED WITH A WEIRD PICTURE THAT HE DREW IN ENGLISH CLASS CONCERNING, AND WE'RE GETTING HIM HELP AND SUPPORT TO HOPE WE NIP IT IN THE BUD. THE PATHWAY TO VIOLENCE HAS BEEN BROKEN, BUT YOU HAVE TO GO BACK AND REVISIT IT AND IT'S VERY QUICK.

IT IS THE CHECK MARKS.

WHERE HAS HE BEEN [INAUDIBLE]? HAS HE OR SHE BEEN [INAUDIBLE]? YES. DO YOU HAVE THE DOCUMENTS? YES. ARRESTS IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS? NO. LIVING WITH SECOND AUNT TWICE REMOVED.

I MEAN, THESE ARE THESE ARE DANGER SIGNS.

THEY'RE RISK FACTORS IS WHAT THEY ARE.

IT GOES VERY QUICKLY.

IT'S A 30 MINUTE PROCESS.

WE CONVENE AT THE END, AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS GET HELP FOR THAT KID, BUT IT IS A FLUID DOCUMENT AND EVERY CAMPUS HAS THEIR TEAM, AND JUST ONE FINAL QUESTION.

YOU AND I HAVE SPOKEN BRIEFLY ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED IN SAINT LOUIS AND ALL THE THINGS THAT HAVE COME OUT SINCE THEN WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SAYING THIS PERSON SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS RIFLE AND ALL THE OTHER THINGS, HOW MUCH ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED THERE FROM THE AUTHORITIES ABOUT HOW THE RIFLE GOT BACK IN THE POSSESSION? NOW, THIS WAS SOMEONE WHO WAS NOT A STUDENT ANYMORE, BUT HAD BEEN A STUDENT THERE.

SO, I MEAN, THAT'S PART OF THE THREAT ASSESSMENT.

I WOULD THINK ALL THE SIGNS SEEM TO BE THERE.

SO HOW DO WE PREVENT THAT? TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION ABOUT WHEN WILL WE KNOW WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED, YOU AND I ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE AFTER ACTION REPORT FROM SAINT LOUIS.

IN GARLAND, SACHSE AND ROWLETT.

WE WOULD LIKELY GET SOME INFORMATION THAT WE COULDN'T SHARE WITH EVERYBODY IN ADVANCE.

IT'S HARDER TO GET JUVENILE INFORMATION IF THEY'RE 17 AND OLDER.

IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR US TO KNOW, BUT ALL I KNOW IS I BELIEVE THE BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENT IS THE BEST WAY FOR US TO SEE THE TRAJECTORY THAT A CHILD IS ON AND NIP IT IN THE BUD, AND I ASSUME THAT WHEN YOU MENTION THIS, THAT UNFORTUNATELY WE HAVE STUDENTS WHO ARE UNDER BEHAVIORAL THREAT ASSESSMENTS AS WE SPEAK.

YES, SIR. YEAH.

THANK YOU. WERE YOU FINISHED? HARRIS HILL UPGRADE MICHAEL PEARCE.

[VII. Harris Hill Security Upgrade – Michael Pierce]

WE WERE UPGRADING, UPGRADING THE ACCESS CONTROL AROUND THE RECEPTION AREA AND SOME OF THE OTHER AREAS ON THE FIRST FLOOR.

WE'RE WAITING ON THE INTERIOR DOORS TO BE INSTALLED TO COMPLETE THE ACCESS PORTION.

[00:30:07]

WE'RE ALSO UPGRADING ALL OF THE CAMERAS, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR.

WE'RE 80% COMPLETE WITH THAT.

YOUR EXTERIOR CAMERAS, THEY'RE GOING TO BE AWESOME.

YOU'LL HAVE SOME HIGH END CAMERAS VIEWS POINTING AT THE CAR ENTRANCES INTO THE FACILITY.

YOU WILL BE ABLE TO READ LICENSE PLATES WITH THOSE CAMERAS POINTING AT BOTH ENTRANCES BACK BACKSIDE AND THE FRONT SIDE.

SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE REALLY AWESOME, AND WHAT'S BEEN REALLY IMPORTANT ON THAT WAS ONE WHERE IT'S LOCATED BY THE DART COMMUNITY CENTER , AND THE SECOND THING IS, IS ALL THE ACTIVITY THAT GOES AROUND.

I KNOW THERE WAS A NUMBER OF THEFTS OF CATALYTIC CONVERTERS.

THERE WAS SOME VANDALISM HAPPENING TO THE CARS, PUTTING BOLTS INTO TIRES.

THERE'S JUST THINGS GOING ON ALL THE TIME OUT THERE.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE GOOD TO SEE THAT THOSE TYPE OF CAMERAS ARE OUT THERE, AND SOME OF OUR SCHOOLS HAVE THESE SAME SIMILAR CAMERAS, NOT NOT NOT THE CAMERAS THAT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE ON THE OUTSIDE. CAMPUSES TYPICALLY RANGE FROM 2 TO 8 MEGAPIXEL CAMERAS.

SO ARE THESE THE TYPE OF CAMERAS WE'RE LOOKING TO UPGRADE LATER? AND HOW ARE WE LOOKING TO UPGRADE THOSE CAMERAS AT OUR SCHOOLS SO THAT THEIR SAFETY IS NOT COMPROMISED? WE WANT TO UPGRADE TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE CAMERAS ARE, BUT THE PLAN IS TO UPGRADE MORE SO IN A BOND TYPE OF INSTALLATION.

RIGHT. SO PART OF THE CAMERAS ARE HOPEFULLY GOING TO BE IN THE BOND.

I JUST WANT TO CLARIFICATION ON THAT.

ON THE ONES I LOOKED AT MOST OF THE CAMERAS WERE DUE FOR UPGRADE.

SO AND IT'S SO EXTENSIVE, IT WOULD REQUIRE A BOND PACKAGE TO HAVE THESE TYPE OF CAMERAS.

RIGHT. OKAY. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION FROM EARLIER, DR.

LOPEZ, WE'VE HAD TEN CAMPUS AUDITS FROM THE REGION, TEN FIELD AGENT, AND WE RECEIVED YESTERDAY DR.

LOPEZ RECEIVED NOTIFICATION THAT WE WOULD ALSO BE AUDITED IN THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER.

ARE THERE ANY DISCUSSION IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION REGARDING MR. PEARCE'S COMMENTS? IN THAT CASE, I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER TO DR.

[VIII. Closing Comments - Dr. Ricardo Lopez]

FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO THANK THE SECURITY TEAM FOR AN EXTRAORDINARY JOB THAT WE'VE BEEN DOING SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY CAREER, WHICH IS ABOUT CLOSE TO 30 YEARS, IT'S GOING TO BE 28 FOR MY 28TH YEAR.

HAS CURRICULUM, INSTRUCTION AND SECURITY BEEN IN THE SAME BREADTH OF ALMOST EVERY CONVERSATION WHEN WE TALK ABOUT SCHOOLS, AND SO NOW THE ACCOUNTABILITY IS HIGHER THAN EVER ON THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL OF OUR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL RELATIONSHIP WITH EACH OF THE TRI-CITY POLICE DEPARTMENTS, AND UNFORTUNATELY, THERE'S GOING TO BE TIMES THAT OUR SECURITY MEASURES ARE TESTED.

THIS PAST FRIDAY, UNDER THE RAINIEST DAY THAT I CAN REMEMBER SINCE THE MONDAY BEFORE THAT.

RIGHT. IT SEEMS LIKE WE MAKE UP ALL OUR RAIN IN ONE DAY HERE IN NORTH TEXAS.

WE WENT THROUGH A SECURE HOLD AT ROWLETT HIGH SCHOOL WHEN I WAS FIRST NOTIFIED OF THE SECURE HOLD.

IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE A SECURE PLACEMENT ON THE SCHOOL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE AREA, BUT TO HAVE A SECURE HOLD MADE ME GO AND TO RALLY AT HIGH SCHOOL AND WITNESS GREATNESS IN ACTION.

THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE ROWLETT SRO WERE ON TOP OF THE SITUATION FROM FROM THE START.

THEY WERE GATHERING INFORMATION, VALIDATING INFORMATION, AND WE NEED EVERYONE TO UNDERSTAND THAT DURING THIS TIME IT'S CHAOTIC BECAUSE THERE'S MULTIPLE SOURCES OF CONFLICTING INFORMATION THAT COME IN, AND SO YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT ALL WITH A VERY SENSIBLE MIND TO KNOW WHAT LEADS YOU'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH, OR YOU'RE JUST GOING TO BE CHASING RABBIT HOLES ALL DAY AND GET TO NOTHING, AND SO THE ROWLETT POLICE DEPARTMENT, OUR SECURITY DEPARTMENT, DID AN EXCELLENT JOB, BUT CARMEN BLAKEY AND HER TEAM DESERVE A BLUE RIBBON FOR THE WAY THEY HANDLED THAT FROM TIME RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.

YOU KNOW, I KNOW THAT IT GETS EMOTIONAL FOR PARENTS AND THEY WANT TO KNOW PLAY BY PLAY, BUT THE FOCUS HAS TO BE ON THE SAFETY OF THE KIDS AND THAT'S WHY WE PUT PERIODIC NOTIFICATIONS OUT.

I KNOW SOME WERE SAYING THAT MAYBE WE SHOULD HAVE SENT OUT PHONE NOTIFICATIONS.

[00:35:01]

IT DOESN'T COME OUT ALL AT ONCE LIKE WE GET EMAILS AND PEOPLE MIGHT BE GETTING DELAYED INFORMATION WHEN STATUSES MIGHT CHANGE AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT STATUSES ARE GOING TO COME RIGHT OUT, BUT WE'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING AT BETTER COMMUNICATION TO GET THAT OUT INITIALLY.

CHECKING THE WEBSITE, CHECKING YOUR EMAILS IS THE BEST FORM OF COMMUNICATION.

I WANT TO THANK THE PLETHORA OF PARENTS THAT RESISTED THE TEMPTATION TO COME IN TO GET THEIR CHILD.

THERE'S NO WAY WE COULD HAVE LET YOU IN DURING THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT WAS RAINING SO BAD OUT THERE THAT IT MADE IT TOUGH, AND BY ALLOWING EVERYONE TO WORK WITH US, IT ALLOWED US TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THE MATTER IN A VERY QUICK AND WHAT I FEEL EFFECTIVE WAY.

NOW, YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL THAT BECAUSE IT TOOK A WHILE TO LIFT.

THE WHOLE PART OF THAT IS THERE ARE SO MANY MOVING PARTS THAT YOU CAN'T JUST TURN IT ON AND OFF LIKE A LIGHT SWITCH, YOU KNOW, FROM GETTING THE KIDS FED, MAKING SURE KIDS ARE ACCOUNTED FOR, MAKING.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS GOING ON.

KIDS ARE GOING TO COMPETITIONS WHICH YOU'VE CANCELED, CANCELING BUSSES.

I MEAN, THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT WE HAD TO REALIZE THAT IT'S BETTER TO MOVE SLOW THAN FAST, BUT EVERYBODY WAS VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD ABOUT WORKING WITH US. AND I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY ON IT.

I HOPE WHEN EVERYBODY STARTS HEARING ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY, UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S THE FOREMOST THING ON OUR MIND.

THERE'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE INVESTMENTS AND TRENDS AND THINGS LIKE THAT THAT COME ABOUT.

WE TAKE A VERY PRACTICAL APPROACH TO EVERYTHING WE DO.

WE DON'T OVERESTIMATE.

WE DON'T TRY TO JUMP ON THE LATEST BANDWAGON.

WE LOOK AT THINGS THAT ARE GOING TO BE REALLY GOOD WAYS TO ENSURE OUR KIDS ARE SAFE IN A VERY, VERY NURTURING ENVIRONMENT.

ALL THREE POLICE FORCES ARE NO NONSENSE, AND YOU WOULD NOT REALIZE THAT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO WELCOMING AND ENGAGING AND THEY'RE PROBABLY THE BEST PEOPLE I'VE EVER BEEN AROUND, BUT TESTED, THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU WANT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO WAKE THOSE LIONS UP.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TEST THEM, AND SO I JUST WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT WE'RE WORKING HARD TO CONTINUE THIS.

PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS.

I WILL SAY THAT TODAY.

PRAY FOR OUR SCHOOLS. PRAY FOR EVERYBODY IN THERE.

THERE'S FORCES OUT THERE THAT WE CAN'T CONTROL, THAT WE HAVE TO BE PREPARED FOR AT ALL TIMES, AND THE ONLY WAY WE CAN DO THAT IS IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING TO SAY IT.

WE HAVE ANONYMOUS ALERTS.

YOU ALL KNOW PEOPLE IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU KNOW, POLICE OFFICERS, YOU KNOW THE PRINCIPALS.

THERE'S SOMEBODY YOU KNOW, AND IF YOU KNOW SOMETHING DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT, LET US KNOW.

LET US INVESTIGATE IT.

LET US GO AT IT. THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE CAN KEEP OUR KIDS SAFE.

EVERYBODY'S EYES, EARS AND HEARTS ALL WORKING AS ONE, AND I WOULD RATHER INVESTIGATE SOMETHING THAT TURNS OUT NOT TO BE A PLAUSIBLE THREAT THAN SOMEBODY SAYING, WELL, I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

WE NEED TO INVESTIGATE ALL ASPECTS.

LIKE I SAID, THERE'S FORCES OUT THERE THAT WE JUST NEED TO KNOW ABOUT, AND IF WE IF WE'RE READY FOR THEM, WE COULD BETTER PREPARE AND SECURE OUR STUDENTS.

SO WITH THAT, I'LL TURN IT OVER FOR MS. GARRETT TO CLOSE US OUT.

THANK YOU, DR. LOPEZ.

I GREATLY APPRECIATE OUR POLICE OFFICERS ALSO, AND THE SECURITY TEAM IS SECOND TO NONE.

THANKS, Y'ALL. BEFORE I ADJOURN, I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT LUNCH IS READY.

MISS JORDAN, DO THEY GO ACROSS THE HALL, GET IT AND BRING IT BACK OVER HERE? OKAY, THEY COME BACK OVER HERE TO EAT IT.

THANK YOU. SO WE'LL GO OUT IN THE HALL AND GRAB LUNCH IF YOU CAN, AND THEN COME BACK IN HERE.

AT THIS TIME, IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION? WE HAVE COMPLETED THE SCHEDULE.

I'M SORRY? DO WE HAVE A DATE FOR OUR NEXT MEETING? YES, APRIL 11TH.

I WILL MAKE SURE THOSE INVITATIONS ARE SENT OUT OR HAVE BEEN SENT OUT.

THANK YOU. WE HAVE COMPLETED THE SCHEDULED ORDER OF BUSINESS, AND THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS FOR THIS ASSEMBLY TO CONSIDER AT THIS TIME.

I DECLARE THIS MEETING ADJOURNED.

THANK YOU.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.