Texas School Safety Center

Purpose:

The purpose of the District Safety and Security Committee is to promote safety and security in all district facilities by:

(1) Participating on behalf of the district in developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the district multi-hazard emergency operations plan required by Section 37.108(a) to ensure that the plans reflect specific campus, facility, or support services needs;

(2) providing the district with any campus, facility, or support services information required in connection with a safety and security audit required by Section 37.108(b), a safety and security audit report required by Section 37.108(c), or another report required to be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center; and

(3) reviewing each report required to be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center to ensure that the report contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus, facility, or support service in accordance with criteria established by the center Additional duties, philosophy, and mission could be added to meet the needs and vision of each specific district.

Authority:

Sec. 37.109. SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE. (a) In accordance with guidelines established by the Texas School Safety Center, each school district shall establish a school safety and security committee. (b) The committee shall:

(1) participate on behalf of the district in developing and implementing emergency plans consistent with the district multi-hazard emergency operations plan required by Section 37.108(a) to ensure that the plans reflect specific campus, facility, or support services needs;

(2) provide the district with any campus, facility, or support services information required in connection with a safety and security audit required by Section 37.108(b), a safety and security audit report required by Section 37.108(c), or another report required to be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center; and

(3) review each report required to be submitted by the district to the Texas School Safety Center to ensure that the report contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus, facility, or support service in accordance with criteria established by the center.

Committee Composition:

Recommended members of the districts' School Safety and Security Committee should include representation from most areas of the district and may include, but not be limited to the following personnel or area:

• Emergency Management Coordinator
• Safety and Risk Management
• Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent
• Elementary, Jr. High, and High School Principal or Assistant Principal
• Director of Policies and procedures
• School Based Law Enforcement
• Local Law Enforcement Agencies
• Local Fire and Emergency Services
• Director of Student Services/Special Education
• Mental Health Services
• Health Services
• Transportation
• Maintenance
• Custodial
• Counselor
• Nurse
• Food Service
• Community Relations
• Representative from specialized services or facilities

The size of the committee should be determined based on the district size and needs but should keep in mind the need to bring together expertise from various district areas and functions and to select members that can and will attend meetings. Too many members will be difficult to manage and attendance may be a larger challenge and too small a membership may lead to poor representation and follow through.

Committee Authority:

It is recommended that an individual be named as the Committee Chair as well as successors in the event the Chairperson could not be in attendance. The contact information for this individual should be provided to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) upon request. This individual should be granted the authority to sign any documents representing the will of the committee. Specific structure and function of any positions within the committee should be decided by the district and/or committee.

Meeting Frequency:

Most districts may find that meeting quarterly is appropriate to accomplish the mission as defined under TEC 37.109 and by the District. It is recommended that district safety and security committees meet a MINIMUM of two (2) times per year.

Campus Safety and Security Committees:

While there no requirements that exists under Texas statute to create Campus/facility safety and security committees, the district should consider the benefits to having a campus or facility level committee to support safety and security efforts in more specific locations. These committees will have an opportunity to share their observations, concerns and accomplishments to the District Safety and Security Committee through the appropriate representative member.

Agenda Development:

The Committee Meetings should follow standard meeting protocol to include the development and sharing of the agenda prior to meetings, notice of meeting date, time and location and outline expectations for the meeting. An agenda item should be included to allow for discussion or presentation of new items.

Documentation:

District Safety and Security Committee Meetings should maintain detailed minutes of the meetings to include, date, time, location, participants, review of minutes from prior meetings, current agenda and actions including assignments and duties, etc. Documentation of these meetings should be held in confidentiality if specific district and facility vulnerabilities are discussed.

Duties:
The District Safety and Security Committee should

1. Review the District Emergency Operations plan at least annually and provide updated information to ensure the plan reflects specific district, campus, facility and/or support needs.
2. Provide a Comprehensive Review of the District EOP every 5 years. A comprehensive review entails reviewing the structure and function of the EOP to ensure compatibility and collaboration with local, regional and state emergency responding agencies.
3. Review district training activities to ensure that each student and employee has appropriate knowledge of responsibilities and actions to be taken during an emergency.
4. Assist district, campus and facilities to prepare for and complete facility safety and security audits required by TEC 37.108.
5. Review each facility safety and security audit and assist in the development of audit findings to be presented to the District Board of Trustees.
6. Review the district audit information and assist the District as needed to complete the District Audit Report (DAR) and its timely submission to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC).
7. Assist in the development of any report or collection of information as required by the TxSSC and to provide a review of that completed report or information prior to submission to the TxSSC.