School Safety

Why is School Safety Important?

"The difference between school and life...in school you're taught a lesson, than given a test.
In life, you are given a test that teaches you a lesson" -Bodett

Keeping Our Children Safe at School

A safe learning environment is essential for students of all ages. Without it they are unable to focus on learning the skills needed for a successful education and future. When violence is part of the educational setting, all students are affected in some way. Even though your child may not be the actual victim of violence in school, there is a very good chance that he or she will witness violent acts throughout the educational years.

Why is School Safety Important?

School safety is important to protect all students and school personnel from violence that includes:

Assaults
Bullying
Victimization
Theft
Classroom disorder
Fights
Robbery
Use of weapons
Sexual attacks
Violent crime

The Need for School Safety

The crisis of violence in our schools has devastating effects. All necessary steps and precautions need to be taken to ensure the safety of all students. Parents, schools and communities need to work together to take measures to make their schools a safe place for everyone.

So why?

Why is School Safety Important? Safety in our schools is important and necessary to support the academic success of each child, giving them the opportunity to learn and achieve in a safe and nurturing environment.

Security procedures and resources

Visitor Registry

All visitors have to register with the front office before having access to the building. This is currently done with the School Check In System, which checks federal offender databases.

Surveillance System

We have more than 300 cameras in our schools and buses to monitor activity inside and out. Through this system, we have seen a noticeable decline in vandalism at our schools. Captured video images have also aided our investigations into criminal activities in and around our schools.

Controlled Access

Exterior building doors are remotely controlled and monitored. This allows for quicker response time in the event of an emergency where doors need to be accessed or locked.

Emergency Response

Zapata County ISD partners with the I Love U Guys Foundation and adheres to the Foundation’s Standard Response Protocol. This Protocol provides a common lexicon for response across the District and among community first responders. Supporting materials for the Protocol have been distributed to all Zapata County ISD facilities and staff has been trained in each responsive plan of action.

Those responses are as follows:

Lockout
Lockdown
Evacuate
Shelter

Mass Notification System

Zapata County ISD utilizes a Mass Notification System which enables key District personnel to send mass voice and text messages at a click of a button. The District may utilize this system to send notifications on upcoming events and activities such as PTOs, early release days, reminders, and other non-emergency issues. In cases of emergencies, the District may use the system to notify parents, students and staff of school closures, severe weather warnings, and campus lockdowns.

Emergency Training

Each campus conducts a variety of emergency preparedness training; such training includes:

Shelter (weather)
Evacuation (to include fire drills)
Lockdown

Lockdown Assistance

Lockdown door magnets or latches are installed in each classroom across the District enabling the classroom teacher to lockdown or lockout very quickly.

Anonymous Alerts

www.zcisd.org/alerts

Anonymous Alerts allows students or parents to quickly, easily, and anonymously report urgent information to school officials across all of our school campuses. The system encourages students, parents and staff to confidentially report bullying, cyber-bullying, gang-related issues and other sensitive topics through private messages to school officials by building.

Multi-Hazard Emergency Operations Plan
This plan encompasses many issues designed to prepare the district for a variety of emergency events. School crisis management teams discuss these issues throughout the year in order to be prepared to respond in a timely and accurate manner should the need arise.

Security Audits

The Texas Education Code (chapter 37.108) requires that districts audit buildings and resources at least once every three years, with the results of the audit reported to the school board at the end of the three-year cycle.

CPI Training for all Administrators
Crisis Prevention Institute