A school district in Texas has started to introduce new security measures that include arming guards with AR-15s in the wake of a nearby school shooting.
The Texas City Independent School District is introducing the measures at the behest of a former Secret Service agent.
“We’re not playing around. This isn’t some kind of little game to us. We put a lot of time, money, and effort into this, Rodney Cavness, superintendent of schools for the district, told Fox News. “I think we’re living in a sick society, and there are some very deeply troubled people out there that want to do harm to kids and to campuses and to teachers, and we’re not going to let that happen.”
After a shooting at Santa Fe High School in 2018 near Texas City, district officials hired Mike Matranga, who was a Secret Service agent for 12 years.
“We have experts in curriculum, teaching, and finances. We are not safety and security people. We had the opportunity to hire someone who was responsible for protecting presidents and their families and we took it,” Cavness told the Galveston County Daily News after hiring Matranga in May 2018.
“I’m a strong person and I’m not going to let political correctness get in the way of me doing the right thing. I don’t believe this is a gun issue, but a behavior issue,” Matranga added.
Some measures have already been implemented: students and staff members wear cards with radio frequency identification chips (RFID), which track their whereabouts through beacons in the ceiling and on buses, and impact-resistant glass doors have been installed.
According to the district’s website, it has also installed a panic button application for all employees that includes real-time video and audio; hired eight additional Galveston County Sheriff’s Office deputies to protect the schools; brought in a K-9 unit; and started monitoring social media.
In addition, every deputy in school is given an AR-15. The guns are kept in a safe.
Opening Threat Assessment for school safety w/ Thomas Munoz and Mike Matranga of @TexasCityISD formerly w/ Secret Service. Matranga: “We’re at a place in our society when our kids need professional help in our schools in terms of security.” pic.twitter.com/xX9nVpKPnt
— HCDE (@HCDEtx) January 22, 2019
“These are the weapons we purchased for our deputies. I’m a firm believer that we fight firepower with superior firepower,” Matranga told Fox News.
The measures come after voters approved a $6.5 million bond measure for school security upgrades.
Ken Trump, president of National School and Security Services (no relation to President Donald Trump), told Fox News that Texas City’s security upgrades appear to be the most intensive of any district in the nation.
“This district seemed to gather a lot of attention because they put a whole lot of money in a short period of time,” said Trump.
Among other planned upgrades is facial recognition technology, mental health reporting, RFID badges for all district employees and elementary school students, bullet-proof glass reception areas, upgraded camera systems, and a second active shooter drill. Matranga said the district is also focusing on training teachers and other personnel.
Texas City ISD tracking students and staff with new ID badges https://t.co/bzRc6I1cBr pic.twitter.com/loLOoDSKCm
— ABC13 Houston (@abc13houston) August 22, 2018
Some measures haven’t met the approval of everybody. Texas City High School senior Arick Walker said the identification badges that track students’ whereabouts are an invasion of privacy.
“I know they want to keep us safe and everything but this is kind of not the way to do it,” Walker told KTRK.
Matranga responded by saying the system wouldn’t be monitored all day and only detects badges within 150 feet of school property.
“There’s a common misconception that we’re tracking kids 24/7. That is not what we’re doing,” said Matranga. “Being a parent myself—I have two daughters that go here—that is a relief to me knowing that someone will know where my child’s at in the event of an emergency.”
He said the badges would help authorities respond faster if a shooter or another dangerous person enters the building.
