Amarillo ISD’s school board discussed Monday at a meeting how House Bill 3 and House Bill 114 would be implemented across the district.
House Bill 3 requires that each school district has an armed security officer present at each campus.
Amarillo ISD voted to hire eight more officers which will double the district’s current police department and ensure a response time of less than three minutes.
Funding will also be provided to train and support AISD school staff to become guardians; those staff members will be trained and armed through the Texas School Defender Program.
Training through the defender program for teachers includes: -Texas License to Carry (LTC) -School Safety Certification (Certified instructor during LTC or by Cinco Peso) -Three years minimum employment with AISD -Psychological examination -Completion of the 24hour minimum Cinco Peso Defender Program -90 percent qualification minimum score twice per school year -Quarterly training conducted by AISD Police Department (nights/weekend training) The first round of trainees will begin the qualification process in the next few months and will hopefully be in place for the 2024 spring semester.
As to Bill 114 concerning students caught with a vape on or withing 300 feet of school property or sanctioned events, those individuals will be sent to a disciplinary alternative education program, regardless of whether the vapes are water or THC. The policy will go inter effect in September.
Bill 114 was also a focal point of Monday night’s meeting.
The bill will make it to where any student who is caught with a vape on or within 300 feet of school property or a school sanctioned event will immediately be sent to a disciplinary alternative education program.