School Safety and Security

• BCISD operates under a comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan approved by the Texas School Safety Center. 

• All schools have surveillance cameras, electronic access controls, security vestibules/doors/gates, and door locks to keep our schools secure. The District continues to work with the Safety and Security Committee and the BCISD Board of Trustees to make continuous improvements in these areas. 

• All visitors are required to register in the office upon entering the school premises during school hours. Visitor management protocols are in place to screen individuals prior to entering a campus or school building. 

• All visitors will be given a visitor pass to enter building and must return visitor pass at the conclusion of their visit.

• All classroom doors and exterior doors in the District will remain locked at all times. All school employees are required to read, sign, and acknowledge receipt of the District Access Control Policy to ensure non-negotiable implementation. 

• All schools have real-time security cameras.

This annex (Active Threat Annex) establishes the policies and procedures under which the district will operate in the event of an Active Threat incident by addressing planning and operational actions for the five phases of emergency management (prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery). This annex is meant to address district planning for an Active Threat incident and applies to the whole district community and all district property.

Purpose:

This Active Shooter Appendix is being written to direct the specific district tasks necessary before, during, and after an active shooter incident. For the purposes of this appendix, the term active shooter is defined as any attempt to kill or seriously injure people in a populated area. This appendix is intended to serve as the Brooks County ISD’s active shooter policy, in accordance with Texas Education Code 37.108.

Scope:

This document applies to the whole district community, including first responder agencies. All district staff, including substitute teachers, who are assigned emergency management roles and responsibilities should receive training in and have access to all district emergency plans. External stakeholders likely to respond to an active shooter incident should also review this appendix for compatibility with their operations and resources.

• All BCISD schools follow the District’s Emergency Operations Plan that addresses all types of threats including weather emergencies, utility outages, fire, earthquakes, active shooters, etc. The plans are referenced and used during emergency drills and evacuations. All plans are updated annually in cooperation with the District’s Safety and Security Committee and are approved by the Board of Trustees. 

• All District campuses and facilities use the Standard Response Protocol (SRP Link) to prepare for emergencies. Staff and students are trained annually and are equipped to implement procedures immediately. District handbooks and the BCISD Website include information on student safety for students, parents and resources. 

• Emergency drills are conducted on an ongoing basis at all school sites with students and staff for different situations such as tornados, intruders, fires, and active shooters. All school and the District Offices are required to schedule and implement periodic drills and submit documentation to the Superintendent of Schools. The District aims to have staff and students trained sufficiently so that they can implement these drills without hesitancy. 

• Active shooter drills are also scheduled and will be held periodically in the same format as all other drills. These drills will be held in conjunction with local law enforcement. The school community will be informed when active shooter drills are held.  

• Parents can discuss school safety with their children. BCISD wants students to feel safe and comfortable in school knowing that emergency plans and drill are implemented to protect all students and staff. Students should be prepared and not scared when drills are practiced and when emergency plans are discussed. 

• Parents should stay engaged and talk with their children. Know who their friends are and where they are spending time. Do not ignore negative changes in behavior. Reach out for assistance, if needed.

• Stay in touch with children’s digital practices. Be aware of online activity  and social media platforms.

• “If you see something, say something” Parents should speak with their children about reporting suspicious activity or threats to the proper authorities. Students and parents should feel comfortable sharing that information with a teacher, counselor, school administrator, another staff member, or campus security personnel. The BCISD website can be used to report suspicious activity anonymously. 

• If the safety of another person is in jeopardy, students should know the importance of immediately reporting that information. REPORT THREATS IMMEDIATELY!

• If you receive information after-hours about a potential threat and are unable to reach anyone at the school, please contact local law enforcement. Do not wait until the next day. Remember, threats or other emergency information should never be reported only through email.

• If you observe a safety concern on your child’s campus, please report it to a school administrator.

• Verify and/or update your contact information (phone and email) through the school office.

The Standard Response Protocol - K12

Operational Guidance V4.1 - Guidance for schools, districts, departments, and agencies. This is a general guide on incorporating and operating the Standard Response Protocol within a school safety plan.

SRP PK-2 V2 Curriculum - This workbook has been produced to help preschool and elementary teachers guide students through the process of learning how to stay safe by engaging in fun activities.

SRP K12 Parent Handout - An introduction to the SRP that gives parents the basics in a single handout.

SRP K12 Folleto para Padres - Una introducción al SRP que brinda a los padres los conceptos básicos en un solo folleto.