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The Senate Select Committee on Violence in Schools and School Security heard invited and public testimony related to providing school districts and charter schools with more robust security options.

This report is intended to give you an overview and highlight of the discussions on the various topics the committee took up. This report is not a verbatim transcript of the hearing; it is based upon what was audible or understandable to the observer and the desire to get details out as quickly as possible with few errors or omissions.

Study school security options and resources, including, but not limited to, the school marshal program, school police officers, armed school personnel, the Texas School Safety Center, and other training programs to determine what improvements can be made to provide school districts and charter schools with more robust security options.

Kathy Martinez Prather, Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University

  • Center was created in 1999 after Columbine shootings
  • Serves as a resource to schools for safety information, resources, training and safety consultants and products
  • Whitmire – can you describe the size of the staff and general information about the center
    • Authorized in 2001 by the legislature, funded in 2007
    • Staff of 10 support staff from grant funding, but only 4 that are full time dedicated to this effort
  • Whitmire – do you do the training in San Marcos?
    • We utilize the service centers
    • Training is not mandated, all is voluntary
  • West – recall when the center was established, intended for best practices
  • Has a robust training program for school based law enforcement
    • Training does include training to build relationships with students
    • Learning to work with students that have mental health issues
  • Taylor – you have a conference right now?
    • That is correct
    • Intended to bring interested parties together for a statewide conference
  • Huffman – you do not have authority over school district so there is no way to mandate training?
    • Correct
  • Huffman – do you think the center could be a place for accountability related to training?
    • Believe that the audit process should be more robust
    • Data collection could happen in smaller (1 year) intervals
  • Huffman – your recommendations at the center are evidence based?
    • That is correct
  • Believes there should be standards for training
  • Whitmire – what is your budget?
    • $1.8 million per biennium
  • West – what can the center offer schools to prevent school shootings?
    • There is no one thing, there needs to be multiple actions
    • Threat assessment teams should be on every campus
    • Response plans and protocols developed with first responders should be created
    • Drilling that plan is very important
    • Center has training for all these phases of planning
  • West – all those services and trainings are available and free?
    • That is correct
  • Whitmire – who is doing the research, and how much collaboration with law enforcement?
    • The 4 full time employees as well as others that we collaborate with, center does work with law enforcement and subject matter experts
  • Whitmire – how would you break down percentages based on type?
    • Primary focus in prevention, mitigation, and planning
    • Weighted heavily on prevention and mitigation
  • Lucio – ISDs come in all sizes, and the approach is different for each but they all have one goal: secure the perimeter of the school and to have at least one checkpoint. Are those part of your training?
    • Most districts report that they have visitor access control procedures
  • Lucio – hope that districts are working to collaborate with law enforcement to create best practices and try to prevent situations
  • Lucio – discussed social media as a platform that many first indicators show up
    • See something, say something training and identification of early warning training is something that all schools can take part in
  • Creighton – what are the more significant finding made through research related to preventing school violence?
    • Provide extensive training on multi-hazard threat prevention training
  • Creighton – so you are taking from the findings and research of others and implementing that into a plan?
    • Correct, there is a vetting process which includes flexibility to meet the needs of the community
  • Creighton – can you name the top three solutions that are high value recommendations for the committee?
    • Virginia requires every school have a threat assessment team, believes that is critical for schools
    • Need a more robust auditing process for schools, which may require legislation
    • Officers on campus need to have more and better training for school-based police to build relationships with students
  • Taylor – Texas has more police on campus than any other state?
    • That is correct
  • Taylor – how many districts are represented at the conference that going on now?
    • About 300 districts
  • Noted that the training needs to be a continual effort, not just after a mass casualty incident
  • Believes that a bigger piece of the solution is in the prevention as opposed to changing practices

 

Steve McCraw, Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS)

  • Always looking to improve the train the trainer workshops
  • The events are infrequent but there are many other pieces to the threats that need to be focused on all the time
  • There is strategic planning and tactical planning which need to be cross discipline
  • Preparation is about developing capabilities
  • Discussed specific examples of prevention and mitigation helping to stop actions before they happen
  • Victim services need to be a part of the planning process
  • DPS supports local law enforcement
  • There are many different reporting methods for all crime, utilizing fusion centers and information like iWatch Texas help streamline and add follow-up to the reporting process
  • Tasked by the Governor to increase visibility by taking administrative breaks at schools, not by taking a resource officer role
  • There are ways to carry weapon on campus, most require school approval if not a licensed peace officer
  • Taylor – can you discuss the alert training?
    • After Columbine tactics changed for active shooter situations, especially in schools
  • West – fusion centers are multi-agency centers to gain information and conduct follow-up?
    • Correct, they have done a very good job providing information to local and federal law enforcement across the board, not just in school safety
  • West – heard that social media is being used as a way to gather information and done so through the fusion centers. There are issues with privacy and follow up?
    • There are necessary follow-up procedures for information learned because one item might not show something, but the aggregation of information might lead to more better information
  • West – what is the profile of mass shooters?
    • Male, usually anywhere between 16 to early 20s
    • Many are disgruntled and either students or former students
    • Motivated by hate more than ideology or religion
  • Whitmire – that profile would say that mental health is part of that equation?
    • That is likely correct
  • Whitmire – what can be done to better recognize potential situations and trigger a mechanism to get involved?
    • Need active and robust reporting by teachers
    • Need to be sure that there is no consequence for reporting
  • Whitmire – perhaps need training for students related to reporting

 

Kim Vickers, Texas Commission on Law Enforcement

  • Discussed different ways people can carry a weapon on campus
    • 207 active ISD PDs
    • About 2,987 ISD police officers in the state
    • Since Santa Fe 200 additional requests to form ISD Police Departments
  • Discussed school guardian program, a legal way for people to be armed on campus. Commission does not have any enforcement or oversight of that
  • Huffman – guardian program has no training requirements, and the school boards can authorize that?
    • That is correct, there is no training requirement
    • School districts can set additional requirements
  • School Marshal Program
    • Receiving multiple requests from schools as well as other states that want a program like Texas’
    • Patterned after the Air Marshal Program in the amount of confidentiality
    • Created a marshal license for the program which includes requirement of 80 hours
    • 16-hour renewal every 2 years
    • Must have a concealed carry license
    • Psychological review conducted at each renewal
  • Huffman – do the school marshals generally train with law enforcement that works in the school?
    • Cannot speak to that in this setting
    • Training is very robust
    • Discussed various parts of the training
  • Taylor – so they are working with local law enforcement?
    • Training with officers from all over
    • No requirement for continual training other than at renewal
  • Huffman – are there identification requirement in the event of a situation
    • There are protocols
    • Responding officers are made aware that there is a marshal present
    • No requirement like that in the guardian program
  • Huffman – do you charge the school district for the training?
    • We do not, some entities like council of governments that do charge for costs
    • Do not believe that there is money set aside for training
  • Creighton – understand that the identity of the marshal is protected with no availability for open records request for that information, is that good policy?
    • Believes that it is good policy to protect that identity
  • Creighton – can a parent make a written request to know if there is a marshal at the school?
    • That is correct, and is not concerned over that practice
  • Whitmire – how large is the guardian program?
    • Have no way of knowing
  • Whitmire – sounded the alarm for me related to safety of teacher, students and first responders
  • Huffman – regarding the marshal program, do they have other law enforcement powers that responding to a situation?
    • No, they do not, only have powers in the event of a situation
  • Huffman – has liability for the schools related to the marshal’s program come up and is perhaps a concern for schools?
    • Have not had to deal with that situation yet, but believes that the marshal has the same protections as any other LEO in terms of protections
  • Huffman – how do you believe the liability works on the guardian program?
    • The lack of preparation is not fair to any party in a given situation
    • Have not had this situation yet, but cannot believe that the school has great liability in that
  • Huffman – regarding reserve police officers, does a school district have authority to not allow commissioned police officers to carry a weapon on campus?
    • No, the schools do not
    • It may need to be made clearer in statute
  • Hancock – discussed creation of the school safety center program as a collaborative effort to create the legislation, and that he is open to making changes as needed to the school safety center.
  • Huffines – what is the cost to do the training of the marshal program?
    • It depends on who is conducting the training
    • Roughly $350-$400 for the training when provided through other entities
    • Trying to work with entities that can make this as cost efficient as possible
  • Huffines – how many marshals are in Texas?
    • Cannot say in this setting?
  • Huffines – Are there ways you could improve the training, and how many hours are spent on active shooter training?
    • 12 hours on active shooter training and another 12 hours in simulated shooter training
    • It is important to put those who will be in this situation in as much training as possible
  • Huffines – do you feel it is a better deterrent that people do not know if there are armed individuals in the schools or to have them know
    • McCraw – Schools can advertise that if they want to, there can always be value in people knowing but the real benefit is when the shooting starts
  • Creighton – In your opinion, should there be more criteria for training and some sort of collaboration with your organization to ensure knowledge of that individual? In reference to school guardian program
    • In my opinion it puts people in danger (I think)
  • Taylor: Can a person legally carry a concealed weapon without a CHL?
  • West – There’s a lack of clarification with this issue. A basic requirement would be to follow the CHL.
  • Hancock – read the stature related to CHL and LTC. Will provide that to the committee
  • Huffman – have not spoken about the 3-ways program. Can you speak to that, the school safety instructor program?
    • McCraw – an additional method which required training and authorization by the schools
  • Taylor – what is the background of the School Safety Instructor program?
    • Created in same session as the school marshal program

Jim Skinner, Collin County Sheriff

  • North Texas Fusion Center is under his command
  • Has been very successful
  • Active shooter situations have been on the rise and is the new “normal”
  • On average, there is 3-minute response time for law enforcement, in more rural settings, it could be closer to 20 minutes
  • It is usually force on force that ends active shooter situations
  • Believes armed people in schools who are properly trained and qualified is a beneficial method of dealing with the situations
  • Coordination between school officials and law enforcement is critical in mitigation and response to situations like these
  • Instituted policy in Collin County that officers must stop at least once at a school and do a walk through of that school and speak with students and teachers
  • Offered to school administrators to provide SRO if the school pays their salary, would only help in communication and response
  • Have arrested 16 students due to actions and threats
  • Suspicious activity reporting: iWatch program has been tested and is showing to be very useful and has worked in real world situations
  • Need to give more tools for suspicious activity reporting, make mandatory training for students and teachers
  • School shooting develop over time, leading to many indicators that may be picked up by reporting
  • Regionally cover 20 counties in the fusion center
  • Teachers need tools to protect students: products like door bars or stops, which tend to be low cost options to deny access
  • Need to teach kids to control physiological responses in a live shooting event, part of the alert training
  • Need to teach teachers how to apply first and, etc.
  • Need to form stronger bonds between schools and law enforcement
  • Lucio – how do the various agencies coordinate in an event like this?
    • McCraw – law enforcement has a very good working relationship; in an active shooter situation each agency has a specified role, and DPS provides support to the local command.
  • Lucio – thanked DPS for helping to continue to form coordinated efforts, and appreciated Collin County policy to get to know teachers and schools better
  • Whitmire – discussed the Shariff’s background as a prosecutor, was impressed by the testimony. How is the fusion center funded?
    • Through grants as well as county and state funding
  • Whitmire – the 16 youth that were arrested, what was their outcome? Concerned about the labeling, etc.
    • Typically a process, these arrests in connection with other agencies
    • Came through reports of terroristic threat
  • Whitmire – what role did mental health condition play, and did they get treatment?
    • None of these are finally disposed, but will provide that information
    • All were juveniles
  • Whitmire – what do you do with a student that is under 10?
    • That is a new phenomenon, try to operate under a common-sense rule that should not typically require handcuffs
  • Whitmire – discussed potential review of video games as source of exposure to violence for young children

 

Allen Banks, Round Rock Police Department

  • Described Round Rock
    • 55 schools in ISD
    • 25 school are in Round Rock
  • Working with Round Rock ISD to create District Police Department
  • Coordinate with Austin Community College Police Department and Williamson County Sheriffs Department
  • 19 SROs in schools
    • SROs are dedicated to dealing with adults, are not allowed back on streets during summer
    • Created Junior Police Academy to retain SROs with students 12 months per year
  • Issue with training and leaving schools vacant
  • Training ensures agencies work very well together
  • Proactive and preventative measure are necessary to avoid a mass casualty incident
  • Lucio – is there a method by which TML or other organization chooses to address request for police force, how do you determine how many police officers are in your force and what is the situation in Texas?
    • Each jurisdiction is different, Round Rock looks at the average number of calls and emergencies
  • Lucio – are your colleagues satisfied with attention given to their departments?
    • Can say that would like to have any additional officers as possible
  • Taylor – how would you rate interoperability across the state?
    • McCraw – one challenge is getting treatment into mass casualty events
  • Taylor – discussed cameras accessible from vehicles, is that available in Round Rock?
    • Working toward that access
    • Also working on first aid training
    • Main training is on active shooter and active killer situations
    • Skinner – interoperability is very well organized in Texas

 

Craig Bessent, Wylie ISD

  • Is a licensed school marshal as well as having other training certifications
  • After Sandy Hook found out that district would not likely have SROs, data showed that the best option was to have armed personnel inside the school, through the school marshal program
  • Most active shooter events are over after 3-4 minutes
  • Shooters are becoming better
  • Taylor – what part of the training is toward what actions the marshal can take?
    • Only to save life and end an active shooter situation
  • Whitmire – are people not accepted into the program?
    • There are standards that must be met and not all people will pass the course
  • The role of the school marshal academy is to teach teachers or administrators to be able to continue making decisions through an active shooter situation
  • Willing to take the risk of friendly fire injury when becoming a school marshal
  • Discussed weapon storage practices at the schools
    • Locked in a cabinet and bolted to the wall, etc.
  • Whitmire – how long does it take to retrieve the weapon if there is an incident?
    • Within 25-30 seconds
  • Whitmire – are the students aware that the teacher is a marshal?
    • They are not aware
  • Huffines – do the ISDs compensate Marshals?
    • Most of them try to pay for some of the initial training
    • That has been one initial hinderance
    • Some districts likely do not have the resources to do that
  • Huffines – so the state could look into compensating marshals in some way?
    • That would be a good idea
    • Do not have enough trainers either, one idea would be to add training centers co located with service centers
  • Huffines – you have a good relationship, do you conduct training at the campus?
    • We require training once per month do conduct training at the service center and at the campus
  • Huffines – friendly fire is a common concern with the program, the training deals with that concern. Do you train with rifles?
    • Cannot use rifles in our duties
    • Train with long distance but are required to carry concealed
  • Huffines – would that help in your duties?
    • Do want to be prepared for any opportunity or any situation
    • Anytime Abilene police hold active shooter training we require our people to go
  • Huffines – should a campus advertise as gun free?
    • Believes that makes it a soft target and more susceptible to incidents
  • Hancock – this is not a new concept, has been around in the chemical industry for many years
    • School marshal originally did not receive a police identification number which hindered ability to get training, now that that is available it has expanded the depth of knowledge for school marshals
  • Taylor – discussed that most incidents end when the shooter meets force and the time it may take in more rural communities to get police response
  • Whitmire – concerned with amount of time spend on marshal program as if it is a cure all, would you agree that the model instituted is driven by your initiative? Do you also believe your experience may not be shared in other places across the state?
    • Does agree
  • Whitmire – have not heard any mental health part of testimony. Did not know the relation to the chemical industry for the enabling legislation
  • Hancock – not intended to prevent a situation only to mitigate damages
  • Whitmire – discussed need for focus on mental health because this sort of plan is not something that can be implemented in the same way everywhere
    • There is a need for prevention plans in each school related to mental health
    • There are things on the front end that need to be considered and worked on
    • For many schools that do not have police stationed in each school, the marshal program can offer other options to get response
  • Whitmire – are your teachers trained to stay in place or flee?
    • Marshals are trained to go to the even, not to stay in place
    • If you are not in a room self-evacuate for non-marshals
    • Campus is notified from alarms, announcements and gunfire
    • Have created protocol for what to do in many situations
  • Whitmire – we are training students for active shooter situations?
    • Becoming standard training beginning in protocol
    • Many different methods for training students about emergency procedures
  • Whitmire – do you have a practice drill for active shooters?
    • We do
  • Whitmire – Wylie is doing very good with this, but do not expect that other areas will be able to conduct themselves in the same way
  • Taylor – this is not a cure all, but the faster somebody responds in an event the faster it ends and this is just one component
  • Creighton – believes that Texas is full of competent and purpose driven people that can conduct this program in a similar manner. Todays charge is about these training opportunities and there will be charges related to mental health later. Do you think you could implement a similar program in a different district if you moved?
    • Believes that every campus deserves that kind of safety
    • Given the resources we would like to have officers at every school
  • Creighton – know that this is part of a comprehensive approach to solving the problem, but this is a valuable option
  • West – agrees that this is one part of the puzzle, just want to be sure that the committee doesn’t lose sight of working on the mental health aspect. Want to be sure that metal health is given the same attention to policy options
    • Noted that this is a whole approach that must include mental health options
  • West – what is Wylie doing related to mental health?
    • Have mental health psychologists
  • West – has Wylie ramped up the focus on that as well?
    • There is not likely training sufficient and every school needs more help in that regard
  • Whitmire – noted that many people carrying out the marshal plan also have knowledge on the mental health aspect.

 

Pete Blair, Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center – Texas State University

  • Prevention is very important; anytime there has to be mitigation it is a bad day.
  • There is often information posted on social media and supports as much reporting and identification to mitigate before a shooting scenario
  • Response is to end the shooting as fast as possible
  • Then address providing medical care
    • Provides training top LEOs related to providing first aid care
  • Recovery begins after the last injured person has been taken to medical services
    • Includes reunification systems are very worthwhile
    • Need to consider material help and trauma help for affected communities
  • Civilian responders have a framework that includes many of the previously mention steps, there are things everybody can do to help in this type of situation and many others
  • The school district will play a huge role in the recovery and trauma counseling aspect
  • Lucio – appreciates the testimony, the first responders are teachers, are they part of those training programs?
    • Currently utilizing train-the-trainer method of getting teachers additional training like this
  • Lucio – can see the collaboration between stakeholders has greatly improved, but many things have been reactive. Hopefully the training programs will help avoid many of these situations in the future

 

Mitzi McEwen, Former Educator

  • Have personally seen many different levels of school security
  • Described personal experience after Santa Fe
  • Believes that the governor and committee are going into the correct directions
  • Have spoken with many principals that are searching for new answers to these problems
  • Discussed class size impact on prevention of mass injury events
    • Smaller classes mean better opportunity to know each student
  • Too much reliance on councilors for problems
  • Have been dealing with young students with emotional and mental issues
  • Teachers must know what to do in bad situations, but relationships are the most important and best prevention
  • Need to also consider that it may not just be students but also parents
  • Teachers don’t want to carry a gun, let us teach
  • Go forward with focus on mental health, believes strongly in relationship aspect
  • Refers to needs as outlined in Maslow’s Hierarchy, need for safety
  • Taylor – also points out need for students to walk up, agrees with relationship aspect
  • Notes this also needs to be part of academia, social/emotional
  • Points to examples of programs such as “morning meetings”
  • Taylor – also points out social media negativity
  • Lucio – appreciates her heart felt testimony, provides personal example that affirms her position on focus on relationships

 

Darrell Skidmore and son

  • Opposed to expanding program of expanding arming teachers
  • Would prefer gun control discussion and improving schools, school finance

 

Police Veteran

  • Was at one point an SRO
  • There is technology out there to help law enforcement respond to incidents
  • Taylor- can it also notify the front office? Asked for more details
    • Yes and it also notifies the dispatch center
    • Provides blueprint
    • Bypasses 911 which is typically a bottleneck in communication and creates direct communication with the person that hit the button

 

Morgan Craven, Texas Appleseed

  • Was previously in an active shooter situation and talks to students all the time who are in harmful/traumatic situations or hearing of situations that are harmful
  • Recommends prioritizing resources to adults who will focus on prevention and intervention, law enforcement officers should be used for emergencies
  • Support evidence-based threat assessment tools

 

Neil Lowenstern, Teacher

  • Two of his students committed suicide this year
  • Should be investing in comprehensive mental health, drug counseling and mental health
  • More guns do not make schools safer, seems like school Marshall program is putting in more guns but not making things safer
  • Studies show increase of law officers increases arrests
  • Speaks on needs for better school finance and investing in teachers
    • Schools are in bad shape, smell of raw sewage was an issue this year
    • Still not making over $60k after 2 decades of service

 

Nancy Salisbury, Moms Demand Action

  • No research that shows access to guns will make safer schools
  • Logistics of guns in classrooms do not make sense

 

Elizabeth Graham, Teacher

  • Underfunding schools has not helped
  • But what has changed is gun culture
  • Insurance companies are pushing back, huge liability to arm teachers
  • Need to enforce domestic abuser laws, need gun laws to back up gun culture

 

Connie Madden, Teacher

  • Aerospace engineer but had a calling to become a teacher
  • Marshall program and Guardian program scares her, does not want to participate and does not want teachers working with her to participate
  • Says the choice is to save money to arm teachers or pay to have more police officers at campuses

 

Amos Postel, Lone Star Gun Rights

  • Part of Texas Gun Rights coalition
  • A good guy with a gun will stop a bad guy with a gun, goal is to stop active shooter as quickly as possible
  • Thinks need to do a better job of implementing Marshall program
  • Whitmire – asked how many does witness think there are, if he is going to say it is working?
    • Will get that detail back to him

 

Marsha Gregory, Individual

  • Not supportive of teachers carrying gun
  • Not supportive of messaging to pre-K children about active shooters
  • West – notes charge today was not about mental health
    • Wants to talk about lack of common sense gun laws
    • West – hopes they will come back in July when they have that discussion
    • West – one size will not fit all, says does not want to deny Marshall program from those that need it

 

Rebecca Mullund, Moms Demand Action 

  • Is not supportive of arming teachers
  • Supports closing loopholes on background checks

 

Mary Kuse, Moms Demand Action 

  • Have worked with aggressive students, many have experienced health issues
  • Work on de-escalation, accountability, safety and respect, positive human connection
  • Will not arm herself with a gun
  • No research to support arming teachers
  • Insurance and funding for training could be expensive for arming teachers
  • Recommends reducing accessibility to guns, hire more mental health care professionals, train teachers and parents to work on gun safety programs

 

Selina Chorte, Gun Control Activist

  • Does not support arming teachers

 

Galenda McHohn, Science Academy Student

  • Does not support arming teachers
  • Focus on prevention, address mental health and better collaboration between students and staff

 

Molly Bursee, Moms Demand Action

  • Have questions about practical reality of arming teachers
  • Has concerns regarding teachers with weapons and the potential implications
  • There is an intimidation factor with armed teachers to those students who are not a threat
  • Teachers should not have that additional responsibility

 

Jennifer Ramos, Young Democrats of America

  • Described personal experiences with threats with weapons and having weapons available to young people
  • Need solutions that include students and teachers

 

Catherine Wicker, Texas College Democrats

  • Need to consider gun control as part of the solution
  • Does not believe in arming teachers
  • Discussed school to prison pipeline

 

Olivia Hoffman, Student

  • Discussed personal example of issues with reporting suspicious and threatening behavior
  • Step forward in prevention is better than one in preventing additional death

 

John Bolgiano, Self

  • Discussed potential for additional screening during gun purchasing and permitting

 

Sasha Ashton, Student

  • Need to keep guns away from schools
  • Arming teachers is not an effective solution

 

Eileen Lighticker, Moms Demand Action

  • Concern with expanding school marshal program

 

Melissa Holmes, Moms Demand Action

  • Described personal experience as a teacher with students who had troubled home lives
  • Does not support arming teachers

 

Jillian Doran, Student

  • Does not support arming teachers
  • Could only give more opportunity for violence in classrooms

 

Elva Mendoza, Self

  • Does not believe in arming teachers
  • Too many unintended consequences
  • Should fund gun storage solutions
  • Should pass a red flag law

 

Claire Jones, Librarian

  • Does not believe in arming teachers
  • Responsibility should be with law enforcement officers

 

Adel Barnett, Moms Demand Action

  • Described personal experience with student that was making threats and showed symptoms of mental and emotional needs
  • Smaller class size would be beneficial
  • Supports many solutions except arming teachers

 

Christy Hill, Moms Demand Action

  • Does not support expanding the school marshal program
  • Need proactive, common sense solutions like safe storage programs

 

Laura Bouer, Teacher

  • Should address red flag laws and safe storage solutions
  • Do not expand the school marshal program

 

Lynn Murphy, Disability Rights Texas

  • Plans should account for students with special needs
  • Limited mobility students may not be able to evacuate in the same way, other conditions may have similar type concerns

 

Mary Beth Metcalf, Education Austin

  • Does not support arming teachers
  • Mental conditions and trauma are a more effective method of solving the issue before it becomes violence

 

Steve Coyle, Austin ISD

  • Described personal experience with threats and gun violence in schools
  • Does not believe that arming teachers is appropriate

 

John Gray, Texas State Teachers Association

  • Does not support arming teachers or other administration
  • State should provide funding for red flag laws, etc.

 

Braunwin Blake, Texas Advocacy Project

  • Need to be sure that the committee considers interpersonal violence in the root cause of school violence
  • Described personal experience with students and children dealing with violence at home

 

Jennifer Lawrence, Self

  • No research that arming teachers is effective

 

Jill Switzer, Texas Gun Sense

  • Concerned that teachers would not have the same protections (physical) as law enforcement officers
  • Should not increase access to weapons in schools
  • Need to promote safe gun storage

 

Amy Turney, League of Women Voters of Texas

  • Described gun related statistics
  • Recommends the committee take time before coming to a conclusion

 

Catherine Dormoroski, Self

  • Does not believe in arming teachers
  • Concerned over the presence of guns in the classroom and the negative consequences
  • Many proven ways to make school safer:
    • Requiring background checks on gun purchases
    • Safe gun storage
    • Red flag law

 

Lauren Rose, Texans Care for Children

  • Mitigation for unintended consequences to having police in schools
  • Need to reign in use of police for behavioral misconduct
  • School based training for police is needed
  • Need better data collection for interactions between police and students

 

Susan Nelson, Texas Gun Sense

  • Described personal experience with gun violence
  • Need to have more robust training for teachers in those situations
  • Need to find ways to better relationships with students and teachers

 

Ed Scruggs, Texas Gun Sense

  • Lack of information regarding the guardian program is very concerning
  • Concerned with lessoning the requirements for the school marshal program

 

Luisa McDaniel, Student

  • Guns have a negative presence in schools
  • Against having more armed persons in schools

 

John Cavalman, March for Our Lives

  • No students were invited to the governor’s roundtable or this committee
  • Strong opposition to armed teachers

 

Courtney Hanniford, Individual

  • Described personal experience with a child who is very afraid of gun violence