FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas — As Fort Bend ISD students head back to class Thursday, elementary kids will notice new armed security officers at all their schools.
The district said these security officers are highly trained. The district also said they are supplied through contractors, and they are not a part of the Fort Bend ISD Police Department.
Fort Bend ISD announced on Tuesday that all 51 elementary schools will have an assigned armed security guard as they return from the winter break.
As a result of the recent voter-approved tax rate election, the board of trustees approved $2.5 million to fund the district-wide security guard services during the December board meeting.
“Fort Bend Independent School District (FBISD) is committed to providing a safe learning environment for our students and staff,’ the district said in the email.
The district sent out an email to parents saying this allows FBISD to fulfill a state legislative mandate requiring armed personnel at all schools.
“These highly trained and dedicated professionals will not only provide security for our schools but also serve as role models and mentors, building positive relationships with our students and staff,” the district said in the email.
The district said each security guard costs $33,000 per school year. They're set to be on campus daily.
"Due in large part to an area-wide shortage of law enforcement personnel in the local hiring pool, it was not feasible to hire the number of officers needed to supply each elementary school with its own officer dedicated solely to one campus – as required by the state in an unfunded mandate," FBISD Director of Strategic Communication Sherry Williams said.
FBISD police officers are already assigned to the middle and high school campuses.
In response to the Robb Elementary School shooting last year, the Texas Legislature passed an armed security officer requirement in House Bill 3. It requires districts to have an officer on every campus during regular school hours.
If a district can’t do that, its school board must pass a “good cause exception” because of a lack of funding or qualified personnel.