Safety and Security
Safety and Security
Helpful Information
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Purpose:
The School Safety and Security Committee is a working group of diverse individuals that serves the members of its school district or open-enrollment charter school by helping create and maintain a safe and secure school climate and culture for staff and students.
Members:
For this committee to have a significant impact on the school’s climate and culture, there is a need for representation from various perspectives on school safety and security. As a result, and to the greatest extent practicable, the committee must consist of at least the following individuals whose names are recorded in the district’s multi-hazard emergency operations plan (EOP) [TEC 37.108(f)(8) and TEC 37.109(a-1).
- The city or county’s Office of Emergency Management: at least one representative.
- The local police department or sheriff’s office: at least one representative.
- From the Board of Trustees: the President and at least one other representative of the Board.
- From the District: the Superintendent and at least another designee; one being a district classroom teacher.
- Parents or guardians of currently enrolled students: at least two.
- If the District has an instructional partnership with an open-enrollment charter school – a member of the charter school’s governing body, or their designee.
- If the District has its own police department: at least one representative.
Safety & Security Committee Guidelines
Safety and Security Committee Meetings and Agendas
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Whitehouse ISD participates in The Guardian Plan. Under the Guardian Plan, a district can grant anyone, including employees, permission to carry firearms on campuses through a contract. The Board desires to ensure the safety of students, school personnel and visitors, through authorizing a limited number of qualified District employees (“Guardians”) to possess certain firearms on school property to provide an effective and timely response to an emergency situation that poses an immediate threat to serious bodily injury and/or death.
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Controlled access with one point of entry for visitors during the school day.
Full-time school resource officers at the High School and the Jr. High. The elementary schools maintain a roving SRO.
- Officers are armed at all times and keep rifles in locked gun safes.
- Officers are highly trained by the Whitehouse Police Department in collaboration with Whitehouse ISD.
- Security cameras inside and outside schools provide live access to staff and emergency responders.
- WISD security specialists are assigned to every campus.
- WISD security specialists patrol campuses and perform unannounced security checks
- Regular safety drills and training for staff
- Threat Assessment Teams at each campus
- Raptor Visitor Management system
- Criminal background checks on all employees, volunteers, and contractors who work on District property
- Wide-area and local-area networks allow radio communication between staff in the event of an emergency
- SAY SOMETHING anonymous online tip-line for students, parents, teachers, and others to share concerns
- Police officers are encouraged to use school grounds to complete routine paperwork
- Region 7 ESC safety and security audits
Other features of Whitehouse ISD schools:
- Crossings guards direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic at elementary and middle schools, while parking lot attendants assist on high school campuses
- Full-time nurses at each campus have access to medical supplies, protective gear and equipment
- Automated External Defibrillator (AEDs)
- Emergency first aid kits including tourniquets and Stop the Bleed kits
- Comprehensive guidance and counseling program focusing on the whole child, including support for students’ mental, social, and pysical needs
- District has a contract for random visits of K9 interdiction
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Whitehouse ISD partners with the City of Whitehouse Police Department to provide School Resource Officers (SROs) for the district.
School Resources Officers works closely with the District security teams to provide a police presence and visibility in schools. Students also get the opportunity to interact with officers and build positive relationships. Schools Resource Officers are employees of the Whitehouse Police Department, with salaries being a shared cost. They are highly trained by the police department to respond in the event of an emergency. All of the SROs are armed at all times and keep rifles in locked gun safes.
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Behavioral threat assessment and management (oftentimes referred to as threat assessment) provides an evidence-based approach toward indentifying students or other individuals who pose a threat, intervening with appropriate resources, and ultimately improving the safety and well-being of the individual of concern, the situation, and the school.
Each campus at Whitehouse ISD is equipped with a Behavioral Threat Assessment Team who have all been trained according to the requirements set forth by the Texas Education Agency along with Texas School Safety Center.
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Say Something Anonymous Reporting
Inclement Weather Plan
Internet Safety
Whitehouse Police Department
Texas School Safety Center
i Watch Texas School Safety
I Love You Guys
CPS Reporting
National School Safety Center
Sex Offender Search
Texas Education Agency
Be The OneNational Center for Missing and Exploited Children
In An Emergency
SECURE! Get inside. Lock outside doors.
Students:
- Return inside
- Business as usual
Teacher:
- Bring everyone indoors
- Lock outside doors
- Increase situational awareness
- Business as usual
- Take attendance
LOCKDOWN! Locks, lights, out of sight.
Students:
- Move away from sight
- Maintain silence
- Do not open the door
Teacher:
- Lock interior doors
- Turn out the lights
- Move away from sight
- Do not open the door
- Maintain silence
EVACUATE! To the announced location.
Students:
- Bring your phone
- Leave your stuff behind
- Follow instructions
Teacher:
- Lead evacuation to location
- Take attendance
- Notify if missing, extra, or injured students
SHELTER! Hazard and Safety Strategy.
Students:
Hazard Safety Strategy
- Tornado Evacuate to shelter area
- Hazmat Seal the room
- Earthquake Drop, cover, and hold
- Tsunami Get to high ground
Teacher:
- Lead safety strategy
- Take attendance
HOLD! In your classroom. Clear the halls.
Students:
- Remain in the classroom until the “All Clear” is announced
Teacher:
- Close and lock classroom door
- Business as usual
- Take attendance
Emergency Procedures
WISD has comprehensive emergency procedure plans in place. The Director of Safety and Security works closely with each campus and local public safety agencies on contingency planning and ensuring the proper response of necessary emergency services. This partnership stands ready to address any situation that may arise.
During an emergency event, parents will be notified via the District’s notification system (Notify). Please make sure your student/family contact information is updated in Skyward as the School Messenger notification system utilizes the phone numbers stored in Skyward. Please note that you must contact the school office in order to update your contact information stored in Skyward.