New Braunfels Police will act as 'school monitors' in the New Braunfels ISD in the new school year, under a deal designed to make the district's schools safer, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
School monitors and a more active involvement by local police were among the key recommendations of both the Governor's School Safety Roundtables and a special State Senate Committee to investigate school safety, both formed following the May shooting at Santa Fe High School.
New Braunfels Police Chief Tom Wibert said the program will ensure that there is a uniformed police officer on the district's middle school and high school campuses 'every single day of the school year.'
"These School Resource Officers have been purposefully selected by the Police Department for their ability to work with a wide range of citizens, including youth, and they have received specialized training for being the first point of contact for security issues on a school campus,” Wibert said.
He says the School Resource Officer program will not only step up safety in schools, it will also help police establish relationships with students, teachers, and citizens which will pay off in day to day police operations.
“The addition of S.R.O.’s this year is a result of a great working relationship that NBISD has with NBPD. We look forward to having them on campus this school year to not only enhance our security, but improve community relations and overall student success,” said New Braunfels ISD Superintendent Randy Moczygemba.
Officials stress that the establishment of the new School Resource Program is not due to any specific threats against New Braunfels schools.
PHOTO COURTESY: NEW BRAUNFELS POLICE DEPARTMENT