The North East Independent School District (NEISD) in San Antonio is tightening up on security, putting a spotlight on door safety protocols. Superintendent Sean Maika, during a recent board meeting, highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant and adhering to strict door policy to ensure student safety. "This has now become a people issue," Maika emphatically stated, as reported by the San Antonio Report. "We’re at a point now where our doors are operating, it is now about staying vigilant and not becoming complacent."
Maika's warnings come in an era where school security is under the microscope, especially in Texas, which has been tragically touched by school shootings, most notably the Uvalde incident in 2022. The state has responded by allocating millions to enhance security measures at schools, including improving door safety. NEISD has spent around $2.5 million recently on security devices, kept confidential for safety reasons. "We need to keep it at our forefront because our employees and our students have a right to go to a school where they feel safe," Maika told the San Antonio Report. "And it takes us all working together to make it happen.”
Prioritizing the "shared responsibility" among the community for safety, NEISD urges parents and students to embrace this culture shift. For instance, when visitors arrive at a campus, they must identify themselves on camera before being buzzed in, and it is vital not to inadvertently allow others to follow through the doors unchecked. These protocols are part of a broader safety strategy communicated through the district's adoption of the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), informing the community how to act during various emergencies ranging from on-campus fights to extreme weather events, as detailed on the NEISD Facebook page.
Reflecting on the difficulty in shifting human behavior, John Scott, the chief of school safety and security appointed by Gov. Greg Abbott after the Uvalde tragedy, commented to the San Antonio Report, "Human behaviors are one of the most difficult things to change." A series of safety audits have also been conducted across the district's schools, with some revealing areas in need of attention, which remains undisclosed by the Texas Education Agency and the district for security reasons. Scott added, "In Texas, we were always kind of told when you grow up, if you see somebody trying to get in the door, you help them out. But we are changing that."
The district continues to drive home its security message and provide resources for reporting safety concerns, emphasizing the importance of the North East Tip Line and the police department's non-emergency line for reporting suspicions or incidents. It is clear that NEISD is firmly committed to maintaining a safe environment for its students and staff, as the district navigates the challenges of implementing and sustaining these vital security measures.
