Education Matters June 11 2022

by Education Matters

Posted on June 10, 2022

To the Patrons of Littlefield ISD:

With the recent tragedy that took place in Uvalde, Texas, school safety is a topic that is a major concern for everyone in this country. There are many different thoughts and ideas out there regarding what needs to be done to combat this issue at hand. I would like to provide you insight on what plans Littlefield Independent School District has in place and on the radar for the upcoming school year.

Littlefield Independent School District is committed to the safety of our students and staff. Yet, what more can we do to ensure our students and staff are safe? First of all, we take any and all threats seriously! The police will be contacted. If we find the threat to be credible and locate the source, we will be prosecuting that person or persons to the fullest extent of the law. Secondly, we will be implementing the Guardian Program as we begin the 2022-2023 school year. This program will allow certain personnel to be armed during the day. The identity of these individuals will be unknown and each campus will have personnel who will be armed. There will be signs put around each of our campuses stating the following: “Please be aware that our staff are armed and may use whatever force is necessary to protect our staff and students.” Another item that will be addressed this summer is a meeting with our Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, Department of Public Safety, EMS, and Fire Department to go over protocols in the event of a situation at any of our campuses. We will be conducting an emergency response drill with our staff prior to the beginning of the new school year. Our doors will be locked throughout the school day (District-wide) to ensure the safety of our students and staff. As you can see, we will continue to take every proactive step to make sure our students and staff are safe, period!

Another item that is being talked about is the mental health issues that are plaguing our country. Our teachers and staff members do an outstanding job building relationships with our students. This is a key component as we build trust with our student body. As educators, if we see something going on out of the ordinary with a child, it becomes important to be able to sit down and find the root cause of the problem. This is where opening the line of communication with your child is vitally important! I would encourage all parents to talk with their child(ren) on a daily basis to see how school is going, and determine if they are experiencing any issues that may seem out of character for your child. The school provides counselors at each campus who will be glad to sit down one on one with our students to discuss issues and concerns. The school will make contact with the parent or guardian prior to the counseling session to ensure transparency. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your child’s school at your convenience.

It is evident that we live in a world today with many unknowns. The safety and security of our students are paramount! We will not tolerate threats made against our school or students. The threats will be reported to the local law agencies, and we will take every step to ensure that our students and staff are safe. I encourage each of you to do your part as we prepare for the 2022-2023 school year. Thanks for allowing us the opportunity to work with your child(ren).

Proud to be a WILDCAT!