SISD implementing Gov. Abbott’s school security recommendations

The Socorro Independent School District has already implemented safety measures recommended by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Houston in May 2018.

Unfortunately, SISD has to analyze tragic events in our nation’s history, like the September 11th terrorist attacks and the Columbine school shooting, to design schools that will help keep students safe.

ABC-7 was at Mission Ridge Elementary School Friday as Miriam Rocha picked up her two children. She arrives several minutes before the scheduled release time because she has to go through a basic security check. Rocha turns over her identification card and her children will not be released to her until the information is verified.

“I like that you need to show your ID. They need to make sure it’s actually the parent who picks up the kids,” said Rocha.

SISD has many more checks and balances. Access to the school is a prime example.

“The school’s secure as far as having the gates locked, the doors locked and we do perimeter checks with our security folks and even our teachers to make sure that doors are closed,” said Ismael Castro, the emergency operations plan manager for the school district.

Castro told ABC-7 many of the changes are a direct result of what’s happened throughout the country, including the latest shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, the one which prompted Governor Abbott to sign legislation to make schools safer.

Castro said more district schools have sophisticated security systems with multiple cameras. The district’s dispatch center has district officers watching everyone’s move – from the time they arrive at the school, to the time they leave.