AISD’s School Safety and Security Committee Meets

Tom Colwell, Aldine ISD’s director of safe and secure schools, addresses the district’s School Safety and Security Committee during their fall semester meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Donaldson Administration Building Annex.

Aldine ISD’s School Safety and Security Committee held its fall semester meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Donaldson Administration Building Annex.

Senate Bill 11, passed by the 86^th Texas Legislature, called for Texas public school districts to create a School Safety and Security Committee. Lawmakers passed the bill to address school safety in the wake of tragic school shootings, including the 2017 attack in Santa Fe, TX.

Part of the provision of the bill mandates that the School Safety and Security Committee meet three times a year, once in the fall, once in the spring and once in the summer.

Aldine ISD’s committee is made up of district personnel, representatives from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department, representatives of the Houston Health Department and two parents who have children attending Aldine ISD schools.

Tom Colwell, AISD’s director of Safe and Secure School, along with Dr. Charlotte Davis, Assistant Superintendent for Student Support-Services, led the fall meeting, which was attended by Superintendent Dr. LaTonya M. Goffney, Chief of Schools Katie Roede, Board President Paul Shanklin and Board Member Steve Mead.

Colwell provided background on the bill, which included the Committee’s responsibilities.

The School Safety and Security Committee is responsible for the following actions:

• Provide recommendations for updates to emergency plans
• Provide support with required audits and reports
• Provide recommendations for training and resources
• Meet three times a year
• Document meeting minutes
• Post meeting dates and times

The bill also requires the Committee to address five phases of emergency management. Those five phases are:

• Prevention
• Mitigation
• Preparedness
• Response
• Recovery

SB 11 addressed elements of Gov. Greg Abbott’s school safety action plan, as well as recommendations from both houses of the legislature following hearings on school safety.