1. 2017 Charter School Summer Summit
Safety and Security Requirements for Texas Schools
2017 Charter School Summer Summit
June 30, 2017
Austin, Texas

2. Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

3. The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is an official university-level research center at Texas State University.
The TxSSC is tasked in Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and the Governor’s Homeland Security Strategic Plan with key school safety initiatives and mandates.
Specifically, the TxSSC serves as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of safety and security information through research, training, and technical assistance for K-12 schools and junior colleges throughout the state of Texas.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

4. The Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC)
In addition, the TxSSC also builds partnerships among youth, adults, schools, law enforcement officers, and community stakeholders to reduce the impact of tobacco on all Texans through prevention, training and enforcement initiatives.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

5. Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

6. SB 2078 nearly passed this session. Provisions would have included:
SB 2078 – Not Passed
SB 2078 nearly passed this session. Provisions would have included:
Making TEC apply to Charter Schools
Would require emergency operations plans be adopted
Conduct Safety and Security Audits and report
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

7. SB 2078 – Not Passed SB 2078 Provisions would have included:
Required use of statewide EOP template
EOP would be sent to TEA for review
Require posting of any district whose EOP did not meet requirements
Require posting of any district that “failed” their safety and security audit.
Require Safety and Security Committees with modifications over current statue
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

8. Passage of SB 179 “David’s Law”
Amended TEC – BULLYING
Makes Charter Schools Subject to TEC
Modifies definition of Bullying
Defines “Cyberbullying”
Right under to place student In Alt Ed Program or expel
Right under to report to LE
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

9. Current TEC
Sec MULTIHAZARD EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN; SAFETY AND SECURITY AUDIT.
Each school district or public junior college district shall adopt and implement a multihazard emergency operations plan for use in the district's facilities
Mullti-Hazard or All hazard plans. Should conduct an THIRA: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

10. TEC
The Plan (District EOP) must address mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery AND provide for:
(1) District employee training in responding to an emergency
(2) Mandatory school drills and exercises
(3) Measures to ensure coordination with TDSHS, local EM agencies, LE, Health Depts, Fire Depts and provide for implementation of S&S Audit
(4) Implementation of a safety and security audit
Although not prescribed by law, Jr. College districts are required to conduct fire drills per the frequency determined by the local Fire Marshal. Also highly recommend that the district include within their EOP the drills, frequency, and documentation of preparedness drills and exercises the jr. college district will conduct.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

11. TEC
Requires Texas School Districts and Public Junior College Districts:
(b) At least once every three years, each school district or public junior college district SHALL conduct a safety and security audit of district FACILITIES. To the extent possible, a district shall follow safety and security audit procedures developed by the Texas School Safety Center or a comparable public or private entity.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

12. TEC
Requires Texas School Districts and Public Junior College Districts:
(c) A school district or public junior college district shall report the results of the safety and security audit conducted under Subsection (b) to the district’s board of trustees and, in the manner required by the Texas School Safety Center, to the Texas School Safety Center
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

13. Protecting Sensitive Data
(c-1) Except as provided by (c-2), any document or information collected, developed or produced during a safety and security audit conducted under Subsection (b) is NOT subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code (c-2) A document relating to a school district’s or public junior college district’s emergency operations plan IS subject to disclosure if the document enables a person to:
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

14. 1) verify that the district has established a plan and determine the agencies involved in the development of the plan and the agencies coordinating with the district to respond to an emergency, including the Department of State Health Services, local emergency services agencies, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments;
(2) verify that the district's plan was reviewed within the last 12 months and determine the specific review dates;
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

15. (3) verify that the plan addresses the four phases of emergency management under Subsection (a);
(4) verify that district employees have been trained to respond to an emergency and determine the types of training, the number of employees trained, and the person conducting the training;
(5) verify that each campus in the district has conducted mandatory emergency drills and exercises in accordance with the plan and determine the frequency of the drills;
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

16. (6) if the district is a school district, verify that the district has established a plan for responding to a train derailment if required under Subsection (d);
(7) verify that the district has completed a safety and security audit under Subsection (b) and determine the date the audit was conducted, the person conducting the audit, and the date the district presented the results of the audit to the district's board of trustees;
(8) verify that the district has addressed any recommendations by the district's board of trustees for improvement of the plan and determine the district's progress within the last 12 months; and
(9) if the district is a school district, verify that the district has established a visitor policy and identify the provisions governing access to a district building or other district property.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

17. Protecting Sensitive Data
Section 3.07 Section , Government Code: DELIBERATION REGARDING SECURITY DEVICES OR SECURITY AUDITS; CLOSED MEETING. This chapter does not require a governmental body to conduct an open meeting to deliberate: (1) the deployment, or specific occasions for implementation, of security personnel or devices; or, (2) a security audit
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

18. TEC
(d) A school district shall include in its multihazard emergency operations plan a policy for responding to a train derailment near a district school.
…..located within 1,000 yards of a railroad track.
K-12 reference however, a rail road track within 1,000 yards or even more, should be identified in your THIRA and addressed. Also remembering that hazardous chemicals are also being transported near your campus every day by truck.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

19. No list of mandated drills written into law
Drills and Exercises
No list of mandated drills written into law
Check with YOUR Fire Marshal about LOCAL FIRE CODE requirements
Occupancy requirements: residential; stored chemicals; classrooms, etc.
Your EOP should list your district/school required drills
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

20. Safety and Security Audits
Current Audit Cycle: Started 9/1/2014 and will end on 8/31/2017
Reporting of certain audit results began in April of 2017.
Must be submitted to the TxSSC using the DARtool (District Audit Reporting Tool),
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

21. DARtool
The with the DARtool link and password was sent to Superintendents and their designee in April of 2017.
The DARtool, once opened, will allow the district to answer the questions that ALL School Districts will answer.
The DARtool must be submitted electronically before 9/15/2017.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

22. Model Audit Procedures
A comprehensive audit includes:
Building and Campus Exterior
Building Interior
Data and Documents
Climate and Culture
Using a Team Approach
Individuals with varying expertise and perspectives
Emergency management; Law Enforcement; Risk Management; Teachers; Counselors; Nurses; Maintenance, Etc.
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

23. Resources TxSSC Website:
School District Safety and Security Audit Toolkit
Audit guide
District Facility Audit Checklist
Copies of previous audit cycle DAR findings
High-Quality EOP Planning Tool
Bully Prevention tools are currently being updated
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu

24. Current School Challenges
Drills and Exercises
Access Control and Facilities
Training Students and Staff for Emergencies
Guns on Campus
Bullying
Suicide
Texas School Safety Center
txssc.txstate.edu