August is here and we are excited to welcome back our staff as we prepare to welcome our students later this month. One thing that remains on the forefront of our minds is safety and security. I want to provide you with an update on this very topic. Senior administration has worked very closely with the Temple Police Department over the summer reviewing our district safety plans/protocols and making any necessary adjustments.

Information regarding specific school safety procedures and protocols are sensitive and Temple ISD will not share these details publicly as this presents vulnerabilities that can jeopardize the safety of those we serve. However, there are some general actions that have already been taken and will be completed prior to the start of the 2022-2023 year that I will share with you.

1. Exterior Door Safety Audits have been completed on all campuses and the maintenance department is working to resolve any issues to include removing all door stops from all external doors and repairing/replacing any malfunctioning locks. These audits were conducted by maintenance, administrative and security staff. All findings will be resolved prior to the start of school.

2. Temple PD will provide Active Shooter Training for TISD staff at each campus as part of the beginning of year professional development before students return. As a district, this is something that we have included in our training protocols for several years. This training will include the most recent law enforcement updates as a result of the Uvalde tragedy.

3. Temple PD will provide training for all campus front office staff prior to students’ return. This will be very specific to the roles and responsibilities of those serving our main entrances.

4. District and campus administrators will participate in a series of table-top scenario discussions to review protocols and expectations. These will start this summer and continue throughout the year.

5. Three additional security officers have been hired and they will serve primarily at our middle schools.

6. School camera access will be provided to the Temple Police Department Chief and designated staff.

7. Exterior entrances will be relabeled (inside and outside) to coincide with law enforcement processes, which will allow for more efficient first responder entry. We have also put in some systems that allow readily key access to patrolling officers in the event of an emergency.

I want to assure you that there is not a single thing in my role as Superintendent that is more important to me than the safety of our students and staff, and I will not compromise this whatsoever. As we implement current and additional protocols at our campuses, this may cause delays and/or restrictions that have not previously been in place. I would ask each of you to be patient with such restrictions and consider the following: safety is not about convenience. It is important for us to realize and embrace this as a Temple ISD community as we collectively value safety above all else.

We have been fortunate in recent years and I believe this to be due in large part to existing procedures; however, we are always looking to improve and have the best relationship we could possibly ask for with our local police force. Please help us keep our schools safe by supporting and cooperating with all district/campus procedures regardless of any resulting inconvenience. Our students and staff are worth the sacrifice of convenience!

Sincerely,

Bobby Ott

The checklist below will help you be prepared and start the year off right.

This year we are excited to implement the Smart Tag system for our bus riders. Click the link below to learn more!

Dr. Macey planted strong roots in Temple that continue to grow as his family does with many members living in the Temple-Belton area. In 1969, Dr. Macey joined the staff of Scott and White Clinic in Temple. Later he and two other doctors started the Women’s Clinic in Temple. He was an OB/GYN doctor and did surgery at King’s Daughters Hospital. Dr. Macey delivered numerous babies for over 30 years, until retiring in 2000. He has contributed his gifts, time and service to the Temple community. We are grateful for his love of Temple and his commitment to our community.

Jose “Little Joe” Maria De Leon Hernandez was born in Temple, TX. Due to life circumstances of being a child of migrant workers, he was unable to graduate from high school. The Temple Education Foundation is thrilled to honor Little Joe, also known as the “King of the Brown Sound,” with an honorary THS diploma and as Distinguished Alumni 2022. Winner of five GRAMMY awards and over sixty years as a musician, TEF is recognizing Little Joe for his trailblazing in the Latino community, the breaking down of cultural & music barriers, and continued commitment to his heritage and roots in Temple, TX.

Temple ISD has a long history of excellence and we have had many, many graduates who have gone on to exemplify our vision to become influential and impactful leaders in their local communities and beyond. Temple ISD Alumni Spotlight will feature alumnus and alumna that have represented our community and our district in a positive way.

To nominate yourself or a Temple ISD graduate, please complete our online Alumni Spotlight Nomination Form. Nominations will be reviewed and candidates selected by the Temple ISD Board of Trustees Policy Committee.

Email: bobby.ott@tisd.org
Website: https://www.tisd.org/apps/pages/Superintendent
Phone: 254-215-6760
Facebook: facebook.com/templeisd
Twitter: @OttTempleISD