Safety & Security Newsletter

This information is intended solely to provide general information and guidance on school safety initiatives and reflects Region 10's current understanding of the topics applicable to state and federal guidance. The content is subject to change as a result of additional information and guidance provided by state and federal agencies with regulatory oversight. ESCs and LEAs may choose to seek legal counsel regarding the information and guidance.

Annual Safety 1st Conference "Keeping Schools Safe"

April 25, 2023

Region 10

400 E Spring Valley Rd

Richardson, TX 75081

Save the date for the annual Safety 1st Conference “Keeping Schools Safe” to be held at Region 10 on April 25, 2023. The Safety 1st Conference will bring together some of the most experienced school safety experts to provide a variety of quality offerings that will positively improve school district leadership in keeping students, staff and visitors safe. The Safety 1st Conference schedule is coming soon.

The Safety 1st Conference is free to all Districts/Private Schools and Charter Schools who have purchased the Region 10 Administrative Services Package. All non-Region 10 participants will pay $150.00 per person for this event.

TEA recently announced the deadline for the 2022-2025 Safety Standards Formula Grant has been extended to August 1, 2023. Please see the link below for additional information and guidance.

2022-2025 Safety Standards Formula Grant Application Deadline Extension

Grant Program FAQs

Sample Grant Applications

School Safety Related Grants FAQ Submission Site

For immediate grant assistance, please contact TEA at safeschools@tea.texas.gov or submit your questions to School Safety Related Grants FAQ Submission Site.

Last week, the Lieutenant Governor announced his priorities for the 88th Legislative Session and we passed the 500-bill mark for public education bills filed. There are now very few days left to file bills and the Senate has started referring bills to committees. Of the 30 priority bills identified by the Lt. Governor, 9 are public education related:

1. SB 3: increase to the homestead exemption
2. SB 4: additional property tax relief
3. SB 5: increase to the business personal property tax exemption
4. SB 8: school choice legislation, likely in the form of private school vouchers
5. SB 9: teacher pay raise
6. SB 10: 13th check for retired teachers
7. SB 11: school safety
8. SB 13: related to obscene books in libraries.
9. SB 30: supplemental budget ($600 million for school safety initiatives this year).

Other priorities that may impact some schools are SB 26, which aims to increase mental health beds, specifically in rural areas, and SB 29, which will ban local COVID-19 mandates. While the bill numbers have been assigned to certain topics, the bills themselves have not yet been filed.

• SSSP Data Collection - June, 2023 - Report SSSP team activities by CAMPUS.
• TEA is working on the data collection tool to be released to LEAs.
• SSSP Data Collection Questions for 2022-2023 School Year (texas.gov)

• TEA Implementing the Behavioral Threat Assessment Process
  

• TASB - Operationalizing School Behavioral Threat Assessment FAQs
• Discussion Recording - Beyond Threat Assessment: Managing Threats with Appropriate Follow-up, Monitoring & Training

• The Hogg Foundation and other mental health stakeholders are aware of strategies that can help create safe and supportive learning environments for every student. Learn more about their recommendations for creating a safer and more supportive school environment for all children and teens. To learn more, visit the Safe and Supportive Schools in Texas webpage.

• Read - when the violence is stopped before it happens

TEA Fentanyl Response Communications Toolkit

• Fact Sheets, Awareness One-Pager, Letter templates, Social Media templates
• Awareness images to download
• Fentanyl Response Communications Toolkit | Texas Education Agency
  

Other Resources

Fighting Fentanyl | Texas Health and Human Services

• Public Schools - September 2020 - August 2023
• Charter Schools - September 2022 - August 2025
• TxSSC School Safety & Security Audit Toolkit
  

The Multi Hazard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) review cycle mandated by Texas Education Code Chapter 37.2071, which requires K-12 ISDs, charter schools, and junior colleges to submit EOP documents to the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC).

The TxSSC will conduct annual reviews of Multi-hazard EOPs beginning in September of each year. The review will always include the Basic Plan as well as annexes/appendices from selected focal areas which will vary from year to year. The TxSSC is your partner in this process and will provide resources and technical assistance to help districts successfully create and submit plans.

Current Multi-hazard EOP Review Cycle (2022-2023)

The current review cycle focuses on the Basic Plan, Active Threat Annex and Active Shooter Appendix. The TxSSC will complete initial reviews and work with districts to help them satisfy the evaluation criteria. Many districts have completed this process.

Future Multi-hazard EOP Review Cycle (2023-2024)

The next review cycle will begin in September of 2023. TxSSC will request the following Multi-hazard EOP documents.

• Basic Plan
• Severe Weather Annex
• Hazardous Materials Annex
• Train Derailment Appendix

Multi-hazard EOP Review Methodology (2023-2024)

The TxSSC will review 100% of districts and colleges for update items to the Basic Plan and randomly select 30% of districts and colleges for a review of Severe Weather Annex and Hazardous Materials Annex including the Train Derailment Appendix. Districts should prepare all documents listed above. The TxSSC will notify your district by email which documents your district will be required to submit on September 25, 2023.

Multi-hazard EOP Planning Resources

The TxSSC has developed planning toolkits that include plan templates, completion guides and other resources. The toolkits include links to online courses that focus on how districts can tailor plans to specific environments. The resources below will assist you in preparing documents for the 2023-2024 review cycle.

• Basic Plan Toolkit | Texas School Safety Center (txstate.edu)
• Severe Weather Toolkit | Texas School Safety Center (txstate.edu)
• Hazardous Materials Toolkit | Texas School Safety Center (txstate.edu)

The TxSSC will email districts with 2023-2024 evaluation criteria (checklists) to districts and colleges on March 22, 2023. The TxSSC will also coordinate regional workshops in the summer and early fall to assist districts with the 2023-2024 review cycle.

Key Dates:

• March 22, 2023: Evaluation criteria for 2023-2024 review cycle will be sent to districts and colleges.
• September 25, 2023: 2023-2024 Multi-hazard EOP review cycle begins.
• October 25, 2023: Deadline to submit plans for the 2023-2024 review cycle.

If you have questions about either the current or upcoming Multi-hazard EOP review cycle, please email the TxSSC at txssc_EOP@txstate.edu or contact your regional TxSSC EOP Specialist: gregory.reyes@txstate.edu

Email: laevening.woodard@region10.org
Website: www.region10.org
Location: 400 East Spring Valley Road, Richardson, TX, USA
Phone: 972-348-1556