Dallas ISD’s Board of Trustees on Thursday received details regarding the district’s plan to enhance school safety. Chief of Dallas ISD Police John Lawton presented the comprehensive plan, which was created with the help of students, parents, staff, community members, and safety and security experts.
“It takes all of us to keep our district safe,” said Lawton. “The incident in Uvalde increased the level of anxiety among our families. We need to communicate what we are doing as a school district to keep our kids, staff and facilities safe.”
The plan follows a multi-layered approach to protecting schools, recognizing that one measure alone cannot ensure safety.
Some highlights include:
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Inspection of all campus access points, door locks, and monitoring and surveillance systems by the end of August. Emergency Safety teams will also conduct random safety checks throughout the year.
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Secure vestibules, upgraded and/or additional cameras, card access systems and other technology enhancements at campuses via the 2020 Bond. All multilevel campuses will also receive metal detectors.
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Student support, including continued safety drills, reimagined in-school discipline through “reset centers,” mental health support, and reporting systems like Say Something and Campus Crime Stoppers.
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Investing in staff by expanding the district’s Emergency Management team, converting hall monitors to trained security personnel, and providing security awareness training for all staff.
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Campus Safety Committee creation at all schools to involve parents and the community in supporting our efforts to generate additional ideas to improve campus safety.
Learn more about Dallas ISD’s Comprehensive Safety Plan at www.dallasisd.org/safeschools.
