Back to School: New school safety efforts in place at Dallas ISD
DALLAS - From clear backpacks to video doorbells, Dallas schools are making a number of steps to enhance security ahead of the upcoming school year.
New Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Elizalde addressed questions about the security of district schools on Tuesday.
"Safety and security is our number one goal. Always," she said.
Many schools across the state have stepped up security following the shooting at Robb Elementary in May, which killed 19 students and two teachers.
Dallas ISD spent more than $95 million on additional safety measures since passing a bond package in 2020.
Some upgrades include keyless entry, improved classroom locking systems and video doorbells so teachers and administrators can see who is outside.
Dallas ISD Police Chief John Lawton says that district police have held trainings with Dallas PD and plans to continue to do so.
Dr. Elizalde said the district is also increasing training for hall monitors.
Earlier this year, DISD announced that middle and high school students will be required to use mesh or clear backpacks.
"There is no one right answer," Dr. Elizalde said. "This is going to require a multi-prong approach."
All secondary schools at Dallas ISD schools do have metal detectors.
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Dr. Elizalde says that multiple layers of security is key, with communication being the most important.
"If you see something, say something," she said. "There is no substitute for people giving us information."
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Meanwhile, Arlington ISD will present its upgraded safety plan later this week. That plan will include a new website for parents.
The district has also created a real-time school safety alert system where parents can check to see if and when any school in the district is on lockdown.
In a video to parents, Richardson ISD Inerim Superintendent Tabitha Branum discussed the network of security cameras and keyless entry the district already has. She also talked about the district’s school resource officer program that informs parents of what is already in place for safety.
"We know the horrific tragedy in Uvalde has parents thinking about school safety as we prepare to return," she said. "Each exterior door in every RISD school automatically locks when closed and all are keyless, accessible only through key cards."
After the Uvalde shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott ordered all districts to do safety checks on every exterior door on campus.
Multiple districts we spoke to said that check is not complete yet, including Dallas ISD.
"They will give me a final report, and any findings will be prioritized," Dr. Elizalde said.
Dallas ISD serves more than 80,000 North Texas students and has more than 12,000 employees.
School starts for most DISD schools on August 15.
Fort Worth ISD will have a school safety plan presentation at its school board meeting next week.