While others are holding 'round table discussions' about school safety, the North East ISD is taking action, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
In a comprehensive series of changes which will affect every student and teacher in the district and may become the standard for school districts to deal with safety issues, the NEISD Board of Education last night approved multiple changes that the district says will 'affect every student, parent, and family.' They will be effective when the new school year begins in August.
The new rules will only allow middle and high school students to use transparent backpacks. There will be exceptions for traditional band and athletic bags, many of which are custom made for the instrument or athletic items the student is taking to school. Purses and lunch bags will not be affected, and the NEISD says there will be clear backpacks available for families to can't afford to buy one.
All exterior doors to every campus, elementary, middle, and high school, will be locked during school hours, and a 'buzz in' system will be established. The district didn't say who will have the authority to 'buzz' students, visitors, and staffers into the buildings, whether it will be students, staffers, or police. The board aid the details are 'being established.'
NEISD is also hiring additional police officers to help increase patrols at elementary schools. The District says armed officers are already in place at middle and high schools.The proposals do NOT call for arming teachers.
"We will do whatever is in our power to secure our campuses so that our parents don't have to worry about their children when they are in school," the district said in a statement.