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Are Random School Safety Audits Enough for Texas Schools in 2022?

Governor Greg Abbott ordered immediate school safety reviews after the horrific Uvalde school shooting that killed 19 youth and two school teachers.

The Texas Tribune offers some details about the "Random School Safety Audits" which offers unannounced safety audits in our public Texas schools, planned for the 2022-23 school year.

What will these audits do to protect our Texas children?

The audits are taxed with finding weak access points throughout school property and buildings and to see how quickly staff can enter a school building without being stopped.

When will these random audits take place?

"Texas School Safety Center plans to start randomly checking school buildings this September, its leaders say, with a goal of inspecting 100% of school districts and 75% of campuses across the state by the end of the school year," the Texas Tribune offers.

What is the Texas School Safety Center?

According to their website, our Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC) is an official university-level research center at Texas State University. that is tasked in Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and the Governor’s Homeland Security Strategic Plan with key school safety initiatives and mandates, which include the prevention and protection of our Texas school children. Also included in the Homeland Security Plan is a section on "Response" which in the case of the Uvalde Police Department and the Robb Elementary shooting, continues to be a hot topic. In fact, Uvalde School Police Chief Pete Arredondo has announced his resignation from the city council citing his desire to "minimize further distractions,” multiple news agencies report.

Opposition was quick to point out that perhaps in the wake of the incredible Uvalde tragedy having unannounced adults checking for ways into school buildings might be dangerous.

Our question to you...Is random school safety audits enough for you to feel confident in your child's safety for the upcoming Texas 2022-2023 school year?

We continue to offer our thoughts and prayers to the city of Uvalde and pray for a safe Texas school year ahead.

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