The Sulphur Springs Board of Trustees addressed a hot topic during a recent school board meeting.
The topic was security in the school. The point was brought back to the front of everyone's mind following the tragic May 24 mass shooting in Uvalde.
That shooting was not the first tragedy of its kind, only the latest. The shooting being in Texas also caused more attention in the state.
All schools in the area have increased security.
At Sulphur Springs, Michael Lamb, superintendent is overseeing all the work down on every campus on security as the new school year begins. Lamb said, 'At Sulphur Springs ISD we are working to improve the level of safety and security at all campuses. SSISD has formed a Safety & Security Committee to help us in this endeavor. This committee is made up of representatives of our County and City Emergency Management, City Police Department an Sheriff 's office, President of the School Board and board member, a classroom teacher, parent/guardian of a student enrolled in SSISD, and the Chief of Police for SSISD along with the SSISD Safety Officer.'
The group met May 26 and Aug. 2 and will meet on Aug. 23. In those meetings, they reviewed safety plans and active threat plans for all campuses.
Lamb said they started the process of conducting Summer Targeted Safety Audits and Exterior Door Safety Audits on all campuses.
Lamb presented a handout to board officials and the media which said: The committee will be developing a plan for the following:
• Ensuring all campus staff (including substitutes) are trained on their specific campus and safety procedures,
• Review campus drill procedures
• Review visitors check-in procedures
• Review multi-hazard emergency operations plan
• Ensure all threat assessment team members are trained
• Update access control procedures. 'The safety of students and staff is always our top priority,' Lamb said in the release.