Sheldon ISD is committed to providing a safe environment for all students to learn and grow as well as a safe place for our administrators, teachers, and staff to work and ensure the best possible learning environment for the Sheldon community.
Thanks to the supportive Sheldon community for passing a bond in 2022, millions of dollars were dedicated to support enhancing safety and security measures on campuses, including heightened video security and front entry cameras for visitors to use as they enter the building. Additionally, all visitors to all of the district’s campuses and high school sporting events are required to proceed through metal detectors much like you would at any of the sports venues in downtown Houston.
We have increased the number of law enforcement officers in and on our campuses as a deterrent measure. Governor Abbott has also tasked local DPS troopers to periodically visit campuses in their patrol areas to develop a support system within the community. We continue to develop partnerships with other organizations to provide the community with tools to be better prepared for natural disasters, industrial accidents, and accidents in the home.
Sheldon I.S.D. created a Security Department in to ensure a safe environment for students and staff.
Sheldon ISD contracts through Harris County Constables Precinct 3 to provide law enforcement services to the school district. Our SROs are lead by Lt. Bobby Thurman. The district contracts with Harris County Constables Precinct 3 for 17 officers who are assigned full-time to our schools. Every campus in Sheldon I.S.D. has a full-time officer assigned. In addition, the district utilizes civilian security guards to patrol campuses in the evenings and at night.
What is SISD doing to provide a safe environment? Prevention and Mitigation
Leroy Bradley, Director for Security and Emergency Management, works to prepare students, staff, and administrators for possible emergency events.
Emergency Management
Our goal is to provide safe and secure schools where all students, staff and visitors thrive in a comfortable, welcoming environment.
MITIGATION
Security vestibules or secure main entrances at our campuses.
Visitors present identification and are screened through the Raptor system.
Card access doors to provide controlled access on all facilities.
Video surveillance at all facilities across SISD.
Conducting safety and security audits as required by the Texas Education Code and in compliance with the Texas School Safety Center Recommendations
A school safety and security committee comprised of local stakeholders who review compliance and offer recommendations to enhance security and safety.
PREPAREDNESS
Multi-hazard district and campus emergency operations plans tailored to each campus' specific needs.
Drills in accordance with the Governor's Round Table recommendations and the standards of the Texas School Safety Center.
All Standard Response Protocols - Evacuation, Reverse Evacuation, Lockout-Lockdown, Shelter In Place - once each semester.
Tabletop drills are conducted at each campus.
Intruder drills are conducted at all facilities.
Coordination with federal, state and local authorities and first responders.
District and campus level emergency equipment and supplies.
Mutual-aid, inter-local and other agreements to support comprehensive emergency preparedness.
RESPONSE
Implementation of Standard Response Protocol, e.g. Lockdown, Lockout, Evacuation, and Shelter-in-Place.
Use of Incident Command System (ICS).
All campus administrators and key district administrators trained in National Incident Management System.
Blackboard Parentlink Portal for mass notification.
Collaboration with local first responders.
RECOVERY
Plans for the emotional and physical health of students and staff after an incident.
After-action reviews and corrective action plans are required after each drill/incident.
Continuity of operation planning to continue essential school/district functions during and after an incident.
It is important that our families understand the language used should students have to use safety response protocol during the school day.
There are five responses:
Hold - Students remain in their classroom until they receive the all clear. During this protocol, it is business as usual inside the classroom and building.
Secure - Students stay inside the building and outside doors are locked. During this protocol, it is business as usual inside the classroom and building.
Lockdown - Outside doors are locked and students are in an emergency lockdown situation based on the recommendation of law enforcement in the area. This could be for a number of reasons such as police activity nearby or a safety concern inside the building that police are investigating. For the safety of all involved, families will not be granted access to the building during a lockdown situation.
Evacuate - Students and staff would evacuate the building for a circumstance such as a fire.
Shelter - Students are trained to go to a shelter area for a potential hazard such as a tornado.
Sometimes, a campus cannot legally explain why a Hold or Secure procedure is used. This is not to alarm families, but it is for legal confidentiality reasons and the protection of our students. Please understand that Hold and Secure are very different from a Lockdown procedure. During a lockdown, all instruction stops.
If students are ever in any kind of danger, we will notify families immediately via email, phone call and website. If you ever have any questions about our safety drills and emergency procedures, please do not hesitate to contact your child's campus. Your children’s safety remains our top priority.
This reporting services has two main features: a dedicated hotline and online reporting. The dedicated line is the hotline number specific to Sheldon ISD. The line can be called or texted by students, parents, the local community, etc. in order to make a report utilizing your selected anonymous forms. The second feature is found on our campus pages (the bullhorn icon) and links directly to campus specific forms. See something; say something.
Disaster plans and useful information for families and a list of free publications.
Fire Safety Tips
An app to help keep you alert to conditions of Harris County.
A helpful page for information about Harris County emergency conditions.
Cyber Safety help for Students & Educators, Bully Preventions, Social Media and Mental Health, and much more.
