On June 9, at the Victoria ISD Board of Trustees, regular board meeting during public comment a parent and community member posed several safety and security questions to trustees and administration. The Board and District administration are committed to radical transparency with our parents, staff, and community and our number one priority remains the safety of our students and staff.
The District is providing answers and information to the questions asked and remains committed to continuous improvement in everything we do.
What is the current plan to protect our students? (what I didn't read last night is "do we just expect our children to hide," I think we as parents just need more education on the plan to know that is not the expectation from the district...perhaps a social media campaign to share the plan).
VISD takes a multi-phased approach to protect students, staff, and visitors.
First, the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) guides the district at the strategic level. The areas addressed in the EOP are Health and Medical safety, Evacuation, Relocation, Parent-Child Reunification, Hazardous Material, and Law Enforcement.
Second, there is a VISD Safety and Security Committee (SSC). The SSC is comprised of board members, district administrators, law enforcement, and members of the community. It is the responsibility to continually assess and provide guidance with respect to the district’s mitigation, prevention, and preparation actions as related to the EOP.
Third, the district has an Emergency Management Working Group (EMWG) that assists and supports the SSC, Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent of Administration, and the Coordinator of School Safety & Emergency Operations in managing the Emergency Management Program.
With an understanding that how we respond to active threats is situationally dependent on location, student age(s), and type of threat, the district added the SRP as a complement to Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (ALICE) training. These response protocols empower individuals to make a real-time decision (hide, evacuate, counter) based on their proximity to the threats. During the 2022-2023 school year, all students will receive ALICE and SRP instructions.
The District is aware that a large number of our stakeholders utilize social media for news, information, and updates regarding the District and campuses; however, the VISD website is EMWGthe number one resource for all information. The District will first utilize VISD.net to disseminate all pertinent information to our community and stakeholders.
How are all teachers alerted that there is an intruder? Intercom system?
Active threat announcements are made in conjunction with a call of action, for example, SECURE, lock all outside doors, or HOLD, remain in class until instructed otherwise. An informational announcement is made if an active intruder has gained access to the building, for example, “LOCKDOWN, active threat in the front reception foyer.” This type of announcement provides the directive to lockdown while at the same time providing the location of the threat.
Teachers and staff across that campus are empowered to assess their threat level and decide if it's most appropriate to evacuate or remain in place until first responders arrive.
VISD is in the process of upgrading campus telephone and intercom/public address (PA) systems allowing for multiple tiers of campus-wide communications.
Will the board, consider implementing the Guardian Program that Goliad ISD has in place?
As Board President Mike Mercer commented following public comment at the June 9 board meeting, nothing is off the table when it comes to the safety and security of our students and staff.
The superintendent, SSC, and EMWG are considering a myriad of approaches that enhance campus security. Current discussion items include additional School Resource Officers and additional VISD Security Guards. Yes, the Guardian and School Marshal programs are also a part of district safety conversations.
What systems are being reviewed for lockdown procedures to keep the burden of human error off of the teachers? Maglock systems, perhaps?
VISD continually reassesses threats related to building ingress and egress. In doing so, our door locking mechanisms are reviewed in conjunction with the building access systems (Intercoms and badge readers). Depending on the location or other logistical dynamics, magnetic locking mechanisms, door strike systems, and a traditional key lock are implemented.
What guidance is being given in regards to keeping individual classroom doors closed and locked during lecture time?
In the upcoming school year, the district will reiterate the critical nature of validating that exterior doors are locked and that interior classroom doors remain locked during instructional times.
What is the response time expected to alert parents of an intruder?
It is important to remember that truth takes time. The District Communications Department works diligently and in close proximity with the onsite Incident Commander, the Victoria Police Department, Victoria County Sheriff’s Office, Victoria Fire Department, and medical authorities to discover, understand and report facts to our community. While those results will never be produced as quickly as rumors or information from live events, our purpose is to be transparent and accurate with the information we provide our parents and community.
The District utilizes a notification system that can update parents via voice call, email, and text message. Parents/guardians should be sure to update their contact campus with their child(s) campus(es) in order to receive all notifications.
What is the local law enforcement's role going forward?
The primary role of law enforcement in any situation is to respond to, detect, and prevent crime. Law enforcement will support the district in maintaining public order and managing public safety during parent-child reunification activities.
What camera systems will be placed, and who will have access to the live footage?
Access to real-time footage can be accessed by district and campus administration.
Will you have "secret shopper" drills to see how effective your training program is?
Currently, campuses have scheduled drills and have held large form evacuation drills to test campus staff training. The District will also schedule exercises that test our process moving forward.
How will you protect my cousin, the receptionist stationed at the front entrance?
We will ensure that EVERY campus has:
- Intercom systems at the main entrance
- Badge readers for staff entrances
- Video surveillance of entrances
- Security vestibules that separate visitors from reception area staff and students
How will you save my children?
Every safety and security measure mentioned in the previous questions provides information as to how the District will maintain the safety of our students and staff.
Additionally, here are a few past and current safety improvements:
- Establish the VISD Emergency Two-way Radio Communications Network.
- VISD enhanced its Drill program to include hardcopy Emergency Response Guides in every VISD classroom.
- The district created the Coordinator of district Safety and Emergency Operations position.
- VISD installed delayed-entry film to doors and glass entrances.
- ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) and Standard Response Protocol (SRP) are now mandatory for newly hired substitute teachers and annual for all staff.
- Campus interior and exterior doors will remain locked.
The District will have scheduled campus and facility visits monthly to check for compliance.
For Victoria ISD Safety and Emergency Operations information, visit www.visd.net/safetyoperations.