Currently, elementary schools in Fort Bend County do not have police officers stationed at the school – just patrol units.

As the new school year approaches for Fort Bend ISD, officials are implementing a new plan to keep students and teachers safe. Fort Bend County will have all law enforcement officers stop by schools in their districts to make sure all doors are locked. Officers will still be on duty, but as they wait on assignments they will make sure all schools are following safety protocols.

The new plan comes after the Uvalde, TX shooting in May that killed 19 students and two teachers. School starts back on August 10 for Fort Bend ISD.

Fort Bend County's Sheriff Eric Fagan said he wants everyone to feel safe.

“My plan was to have all law enforcement agencies work together to protect the most precious thing in our state, and that’s our children," he said.

While officers are waiting on an assignment, they will walk the schools and make sure all doors are locked and no suspicious person is wandering around school grounds. If officers find anything out of compliance or suspicious, they are to notify the school or call law enforcement.

Fagan did say that in the event of an active shooter Fort Bend County officers will immediately respond and will not have to wait for supervisor orders.

"We find out these shooters look for soft targets, I don't want our schools to be a soft target anymore," Fagan said.

Katy ISD elementary teacher Michelle Warren told Univision security is a big concern this year.

“I’m one of those soft spots so that’s where I’m concerned, it’s just I look like a target by virtue of not having a dedicated personnel there."

Dr. Robert Bostic is the Superintendent of Schools for Stafford Municipal School District. He said officials have met with the Secret Service about new ways to keep schools safe like the new plan Fagan is implementing.

"We're always looking for activities and items that are going to make sure that we continue to keep kids safe everyday," Bostic said.

Fort Bend County officials say in order to build a "force multiplier," all law enforcement agencies — including constables, sheriffs, and district police — will have to work together to keep all children safe at school.

The Texas Education Agency issued new safety guidelines right after the Uvalde shooting to improve safety across all Texas Public Schools.

Texas schools are required to take new safety measures prior to the start of a new school year which includes conducting summer safety audits and inspecting every exterior door on all campuses.

Fort Bend ISD currently has one officer at every middle school and two officers at every high school. Elementary schools in the district do not have a designated officer – just patrol units.

Fort Bend officials say before the TEA mandated its new safety guidelines this summer, they have always checked to make sure doors were locked to ensure the safety of its schools.

Fill out the form below to subscribe our new daily editorial newsletter from the HPM Newsroom.

Posted on August 12, 2022 · On Friday's show: How HISD hopes to improve security at schools in the event of an active shooter. We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we learn how Houston became a mecca for competitive air hockey.

Tags Air Hockey hisd Little League baseball pearland school safety The Good The Bad and The Ugly

Posted on August 9, 2022 · Texas lags behind most other states in data points used to determine the overall health and well-being of children, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

Tags annie e. casey foundation Cypress-fairbanks ISD every texan Fort Bend ISD Houston ISD mental health

Posted on July 21, 2022 · The Fort Bend ISD school has about 530 students who will relocate to neighboring campuses.

Tags Barrington Place Elementary School Fort Bend ISD mold

Posted on June 9, 2022 · Social Studies Super Hero, Chassidy Olainu-Alade, serves as our I SEE U Tour Guide of ‘Sugar Land 95,’ a new exhibit that highlights a new form of slavery the city of Sugar Land, a popular Houston-area suburb, may not be so proud of. This episode is an encore of the April 30th, 2021 broadcast.

Tags black history convict leasing convict leasing Sugar Land Eddie Robinson exhibit Fort Bend ISD i see u museum News 88.7 FM racism slavery sugarland Sugarland remains Texas slavery

More Articles by This Author

Let the Houston Public Media newsroom help you start your day.

Get highlights, trending news, and behind-the-scenes insights from Houston Public Media delivered to your inbox each week.

Houston Public Media is supported with your gifts to the Houston Public Media Foundation and is licensed to the University of Houston