Alief Independent School District in Texas is facing a challenge in complying with a new law that requires an armed individual on every campus. While the law went into effect in September, the district still has 25 officer openings as the school year comes to an end. This has led to Alief ISD Police Chief Dan Turner spending more than half his time trying to recruit and hire officers. However, the district is not alone in this struggle, as many other districts across the state are also competing to hire officers under the new law.
The law states that each district campus must have at least one armed security officer present during regular school hours. To help fund this mandate, districts are provided with $15,000 per campus and an additional $10 per student. However, this funding may not be enough to cover the salary, training, vehicles, and other equipment required for officers. This has resulted in some districts, including the Houston Independent School District (HISD), utilizing the “good cause exemption” and developing alternative safety plans approved by their school boards. HISD is working towards staffing all of its 274 campuses with officers or uniformed armed security guards over the next three years.
Alief ISD Superintendent Dr. Anthony Mays emphasized the importance of maintaining a high standard when hiring officers and stated that the district will only be hiring licensed peace officers who can not only keep students and schools safe but also connect with them. This approach reflects the district’s commitment to ensuring a safe and supportive environment for its students.
Chief Turner explained that Alief ISD primarily hires experienced officers who retired from larger city or county police agencies and are looking for a different environment. The district also works with police academies to find strong cadets who meet their standards. However, finding officers who meet these criteria has been challenging, and only about three out of every five or six applicants are ultimately hired after thorough background investigations.
The passage of House Bill 3, which requires an armed individual on every campus, was a response to the Uvalde tragedy in 2022, where a gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School, resulting in the loss of 19 teachers and two students. Rep. Joe Moody, one of the sponsors of HB3, stated that the state did not provide sufficient funding to districts that did not already have an officer on each campus. Moody believes that lawmakers need to prioritize funding solutions rather than merely writing them on paper.
Alief ISD’s starting salary for an officer is $53,000, but Superintendent Mays expressed concerns about the funding provided by the state. He stated that it cost over $1 million for the district to be in compliance with the mandate, and the funding fell short of covering all expenses. However, Mays remains optimistic that state leaders will address the funding concerns in the next legislative session.
Despite the challenges, Alief ISD is determined to fill the officer openings this summer. The district is considering creative strategies to attract and incentivize officers to come to Alief. Superintendent Mays acknowledged that it is a balancing act to figure out what can be done within budget constraints.
Looking ahead, Rep. Moody intends to support any bill that provides public schools with more funding for safety measures. He emphasized the importance of adequately funding these requirements to ensure the security and well-being of teachers, parents, and students.
In conclusion, while Alief ISD and other school districts in Texas face difficulties in complying with the new law requiring armed individuals on every campus, they are committed to finding qualified officers who can maintain a safe and supportive environment for students. The issue of funding remains a challenge, but there is hope that state leaders will recognize these concerns and address them in the upcoming legislative session.
