“Parents on patrol” program to launch at Gadsden ISD

ANTHONY, New Mexico -- An initiative dubbed "Parents on Patrol" or "POP" will begin Friday for the Gadsden Independent School District.

The POP program recruits parents of students that attend schools in the district to be an extra set of eyes and ears around campuses.

The program runs on a volunteer basis. Duties include checking all doors around buildings are locked and secure and reporting any suspicious activity on or around campuses.

GISD ran background checks on parents interested in volunteering and had trained over 90 volunteers on the district's protocols for the past several weeks.

After completing that training, volunteers will patrol their assigned campus in two-hour shifts coordinated by the campus principal.

Officials from GISD said parent-volunteers would be easily recognizable to students and staff due to their brightly-colored vests with "POP" on the back.