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Knippa approves defender program




Benny
Hernández

Knippa Independent School District is the third Uvalde County school district where staff members may be armed, as on March 9 the district’s board of trustees unanimously approved implementing a defender program.

Superintendent Benny Hernández said individuals must complete some requirements before taking part.

“There is still work ahead for the district before this program comes to a realization,” Hernández said. Program criteria includes that the armed person be a district employee or board member who volunteers; posses a valid license to carry; passes a psychological evaluation; and completes the Texas Department of Public Safety School Safety Certification Course at a passing rate of 90-percent for both the written exam and live fire test.

Hernández said once the individual completes the requirements, successful volunteers must also demonstrate 90-percent proficiency of 100 rounds at the firing range on a monthly basis.

The measure was first brought to the board in early February and then the district issued a survey to staff.

Knippa ISD presently employs two off-duty officers from 7:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. each day for campus security.

For the 2021-22 school year, KISD’s enrollment tallied 412 students of which 32 percent are classified as economically disadvantaged, according to the Texas Education Agency.

Sabinal and Utopia ISDs, both in Uvalde County, have similar programs in place, as does Nueces Canyon CISD, which has campuses in Real and Edwards counties.

School districts may be able to expand their security options as lawmakers have introduced several bills that address school safety and armed individuals during the current legislative session.

Bills that address school security and arming volunteers include SB 142, introduced by Texas State Senator Drew Springer, which would allow school districts to recruit retired police officers and military veterans to serve as a school security volunteer. 

Representative Bryan Stanton introduced HB 2811, which would allow school districts to establish a volunteer school protection force in coordination with a county sheriff, who could recruit “a former law enforcement officer, a veteran, or a competent individual as determined in the sheriff’s sole discretion,” to serve on the school protection force.

mfederspill@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335