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Security audit reveals faulty latch at school




Melissa Federspill|Leader-News
Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District board secretary Laura Perez asks interim superintendent Gary Patterson (not pictured) about the intruder detection audit performed at Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District. The meeting was held Dec. 19 at the Benson Educational Complex.

A security inspector performing an intruder detection audit at Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District was able to access a campus cafeteria through an exterior door with a faulty latch, interim superintendent Gary Patterson told the board of trustees on Dec. 19.

Patterson said UCISD knew in advance that three campuses were selected for the audit. He did not specify which campuses were audited.

On June 1, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Safe School Center, in coordination with the Texas Education Agency, to develop and implement a plan to conduct random, unannounced, intruder detection audits to determine any school safety and security weak points. 

“They attempted to gain access on three of our campuses over a two-day period, and I’m very pleased to announce that 100-percent of all three campus exterior doors were locked,” Patterson said. 

“We did get dinged though…there was access gained on one exterior door at a campus that was in a cafeteria loading dock area. It was not in a fenced in area. It was in an area next to a parking lot that is not fenced,” Patterson said.

He said a delivery truck was backed up making a delivery, and the door was being opened and closed. 

“What we found out later was that the door itself, the latch was found to be faulty,” he said.

Patterson said they reviewed camera footage and saw the inspector check the lock, and it was locked, but he tugged the door and it came open. He said he was able to enter the cafeteria, before he was stopped by staff.

“That really is 100-percent my responsibility to see that didn’t happen. Honestly I overlooked it but I won’t overlook it next time.”

He said the district will implement training sessions on procedures around deliveries.

“We are making progress and I hate that happened, but we stopped the intruder. I can see how it happened, it just shouldn’t have happened.”

Trustee Laura Perez asked if all the campuses have the same type of doors at loading docks. 

“I don’t know if any other schools are exactly like that, but this will cause us to go back and triple check all of those doors, all of our loading areas. And then it’s a training piece to make sure that everybody in the facility knows we are going to upgrade our check-in policies for vendors, contractors,” Patterson said.

Board member Javier Flores was not present for the meeting, which began at 6 p.m. in the Benson board room.

Patterson also presented the progress of safety and security measures, including door replacements, security vestibules and fencing. He said the district has spent nearly $5 million on security measures. 

He also gave an update on the police force, and said they are still seeking candidates. He said interim-police chief Joshua Gutierrez has been reviewing applicants and performing in-depth background checks.

Berlinda Arrerola, step-grandmother to Amerie Jo Garza, during public comments, told the board she has witnessed Texas Department of Public Safety officers, who are providing additional security at school campuses, not paying attention to students and their surroundings. She offered cell phone images of DPS officers on their cell phones.

The board did not meet in closed session and the meeting was adjourned at approximately 7:32 p.m.