Dear Coppell ISD Community,
As our school year is well underway, I want to take a moment to share important updates regarding the safety and security measures in our schools, including an update from the CISD Board of Trustees meeting on August 28, as well as what was shared in our Parent University on School Safety on August 30. We understand that school safety is a shared responsibility, and we are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us to protect our students, teachers and staff, and visitors to our campuses and buildings.
Our dedicated team has been working tirelessly to enhance our safety protocols and procedures, in addition to working to comply with House Bill 3 (HB 3). HB 3, which goes into effect on September 1, requires an armed police officer or other armed personnel at each campus during school hours. We have been able to achieve this requirement for the CISD schools in Irving and Dallas. We have one School Resource Deputy (SRD) at CMS West and one SRD at Canyon Ranch Elementary. There is also one armed security personnel from D&L Securities serving Richard J. Lee Elementary and another armed security officer from D&L Securities serving Valley Ranch Elementary.
While CISD Trustees approved a resolution for a Good Cause Exception to House Bill 3, 88th Regular Session on August 28, our partner, the City of Coppell, is working very hard to hire eight additional School Resource Officers for elementary schools in the City of Coppell. I assure you that all of our elementary campuses in Coppell are being served by a School Resource Officer, and the Coppell Police Department has increased patrols in the City of Coppell as they work to hire additional School Resource Officers.
We also wanted to share a reminder about these enhancements to our safety and security measures:
- Resistant Film on Windows and Doors: This summer we completed the project to add resistant film to the ground floor exterior windows and the doors at every Coppell ISD campus and building.
- Controlled Access to Campuses and Buildings and Exterior Door Audits: We have controlled access to our campuses and buildings to safeguard the well-being of everyone in our school community. We also will continue to conduct comprehensive exterior door audits at all of our campuses. These audits ensure that all entry points are secure, enhancing the protection of our students and staff.
- Comprehensive Staff Training: Our staff members continue to receive rigorous training sessions in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. This training equips them with the skills and knowledge to respond effectively to various safety situations.
- Emergency Drills: We are committed to preparedness. Throughout the year, we will conduct regular emergency drills to ensure that our students and staff are well-versed in safety protocols and can respond calmly in the event of an emergency. CISD uses the Standard Response Protocol to respond to any incident such as weather, accidents, intruders or other threats. To learn more about the Standard Response Protocol, visit iloveyouguys.org.
- Emergency Operations Plan: Our Emergency Operations Plan outlines detailed procedures to swiftly address a range of potential crises, prioritizing the safety and well-being of our CISD community.
- Enhanced Surveillance: We are expanding our camera surveillance systems to cover key areas of our campuses. These measures will aid in monitoring and addressing any potential security concerns promptly.
- Health Safety: Each one of our campuses is equipped with Narcan, Stop the Bleed Bags and EpiPen Auto-Injectors. Automated Electronic Defibrillators (AEDs) are located on every campus and near large venues like gyms, cafeterias and auditoriums to assist students in a medical emergency.
- Crossing Guards: The district is committed to providing crossing guards at all our designated crossing locations near our campuses ensuring safety as students walk to and from our schools.
- Cameras on School Buses: In order to enhance safety and security, CISD will be installing three cameras on all buses with installation expected to be complete by the end of September.
- See Something, Say Something and the STOPit App: Empowering our students and parents with the motto "See something, say something," we encourage an engaged community who actively contributes to the safety of our schools by promptly reporting anything of concern to a trusted adult or via the StOPit App. CISD uses STOPit, an app and web-based system, to allow students, parents, teachers and the community to anonymously report cyber-bullying, threats of violence, misconduct or self-harm. You can find more information at www.coppellisd.com/page/tipline
- CISD Alert: In the event of a crisis or emergency, the district will use the CISD Alert system to mass notify our community via phone, text and email. CISD tests this system twice a year to ensure our community receives these alerts. As a reminder, anytime your contact information changes, please let your school registrar/secretary know so it can be updated in our notification system.
Thank you for your continued support as we work together to maintain a safe and secure environment for our students. By fostering a community that values safety and empathy, we can ensure that our schools remain a place where each student can thrive.
Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Hunt
Superintendent