By MELISSA DE LOS SANTOS
Special to the NEWS
On October 11, 2023, the San Benito CISD Board of Trustees held its regular board meeting. Item 5 on the agenda was a District Safety Update, presented by Safety Director Rene Flores.
Flores began his presentation by explaining the Intruder Audits conducted at Veteran’s Memorial Academy, Rangerville Elementary, Collegiate Academy at VMA, and Frank Roberts Elementary by TEA and the Texas School Safety Center. Flores was notified and given a seven-day window when they would visit unannounced. They did interior and exterior door checks of the campuses and zero findings were reported.
Flores reported that the fencing around the schools was 100% in compliance with TEA guidelines. There was a fence audit conducted with Acting Superintendent Alfredo Perez, Executive Director of Operations Ray Saldana, and SBCISD Police Chief Juan Sosa. During that audit, it was determined that there were some fencing additions needed at Ed Downs, Miller Jordan Middle School, Dr. Cash, Angela Leal, Judge Oscar De La Fuente, Fred Booth, Frank Roberts, Dr. Garza, and Riverside Middle School.
It was discussed that SBCISD safety plans needing to be submitted by 10/26/2023 for the TEA/Texas School Safety Center Fall 2023 Review Cycle that include, the Emergency Operations Plan, Severe Weather Plan, Train Derailment Appendix, and the Hazardous Materials Annex.
During the 2022-2023 Review Cycle, the Emergency Operations Plan, Active Shooter, and Active Threat Plans were submitted.
Access card readers, paid for by the Elon Musk Foundation and a TEA School Safety Grant, is estimated to be completed December 2023 or early January 2024. Updated card readers will be at every campus, instructional as well as non-instructional.
Panic Key Fobs have been installed in all schools in the district. In the event of an emergency, a button will be pressed, it will activate and will go straight to Security International alarms that will get notified to the dispatch center. Officers get sent quickly. Checks are being conducted on them every two weeks or so. All elementary schools received four, middle schools, Gateway Academy and VMA received 6, and San Benito High School received 8. Every administrator will receive one. By the 2025-2026 school year, all public and charter schools are required to install silent alert technology in classrooms, to be in accordance with Alyssa’s Law.
Also discussed was the District Weather System, which has been installed at Bobby Morrow Stadium. It can detect lightning within an eight-mile radius which will set off a siren and blinking light located on the press box. There is a meteorologist on-call and 150 text messages and emails will be sent out to prepare for early release or shut downs during extreme weather.
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