School Safety & Security Committee

The School Safety and Security Committee is a working group of diverse individuals that serves the members of its school district or open-enrollment charter school by helping create and maintain a safe and secure school climate and culture for staff and students. 

The benefits of a functioning safety and security committee include, but are not limited to:

• Central coordination of safety efforts

• Improves the climate and culture of the school

• Enhances the learning and educational environment

• Assisting with drills and exercises safety audits, policy development and training

1. Participate in the development and implementation of the district’s emergency plans by ensuring they are consistent with the district’s EOP and reflect the specific campus, facility, or support service needs.
[TEC 37.109(b)(1)] 

2. Provide to the board of trustees and district administration recommendations to update the district’s EOP according to the best practices identified by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC), or an individual in the TxSSC’s Registry. [TEC 37.109(b)(2) and TEC 37.2091] 

3. Supply any campus, facility, or support services information required for the completion of the district safety and security audit, safety and security audit report, or any other report required to be submitted to the TxSSC. [TEC 37.109(b)(3)]

4. Review each report the district submits to the TxSSC to ensure it contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus, facility, or support service, and follows the criteria established by the TxSSC. [TEC 37.109(b)(4)] 

5. Consult with local law enforcement agencies on how to increase their presence near district campuses. [TEC 37.109(b)(5)] 

6. Select where bleeding control stations are to be placed in schools, ensuring they are in easily accessible areas. [TEC 38.030(a) and (b)(2) and (c)] 

7. Meet together, following Government Code, Chapter 551, at least once each academic semester and during the summer. Notice of a committee meeting must be posted in the same manner as notice of a meeting of the district’s board of trustees. If the district operates on a year-round system, then the committee must meet at least three times per calendar year with at least two months between meetings. Meeting dates are to be included in the district’s EOP. [TEC 37.109(c) and (d), TEC 37.108(f)(8), and Government Code, Chapter 551] 

8. Take training on Psychological First Aid. [TEC 37.108(f)(6)(C)(i)] Training sources:

• Regional ESC

• Free Online Training

9. Provide input in the design of active threat exercises, if a district chooses to participate. TEC 37.1141 (Added by Acts 2021, Texas Acts of the 87th Leg. - Regular Session, ch. TBD,Sec. 2, eff. 6/14/2021, op. beginning with the 2021-2022 school year and Rules). 

TEC 37.109

Additional Guidance and Best Practices

The following is a list of actions and best practices the TxSSC recommends Districts consider for the School Safety and Security Committee. 

1. Participate in the development and implementation of the district’s emergency plans by ensuring they are consistent with the district’s EOP and reflect the specific campus, facility, or support service needs that exist. [TEC 37.109(b)(1)]  

• The committee monitors that the district EOP is updated and that individual facilities (campuses, and non-instructional facilities) are consistent with the district plan and reflect planning around specific hazards related to the individual facilities.  

• The committee monitors that the district EOP is updated at least annually and incorporates all legislative additions.  

• The committee commits to holding after-action reviews after incidents occur and modify the EOP, if needed, based on the lessons learned after an incident.  The committee evaluates if drills are done at every facility, and that substitutes, as they are hired, are trained in drills and for emergency situations.  The committee designates district personnel to be trained in FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS).  The committee should review the NIMS Implementation Activities for Schools and Higher Education Institutions document and identify which key personnel need to be trained as listed on page 18 of the document.  The committee ensures that all personnel responsible for writing and developing the District Emergency Operations Plan has taken ICS-362.a (Multi-hazard Emergency Planning for Schools).  The committee maintains a working list of current staff trained in ICS and NIMS.  The committee updates the list annually. 

2. Provide, periodically to the board of trustees and district administration, recommendations to update the district’s EOP according to the best practices identified by the Texas Education Agency, the Texas School Safety Center (TxSSC), or an individual in the TxSSC’s Registry. [TEC 37.109(b)(2) and TEC 37.2091]  The committee commits to report to the school board at least annually on their work, what changes have been made to the EOP, and why those changes were made.  The committee works to update district administration after each meeting on the progress of the committee.

 3. Supply any campus, facility, or support services information required to the district for the completion of their safety and security audit, safety and security audit report, or any other report required to be submitted to the TxSSC. [TEC 37.109(b)(3)]  The committee informs district administrators that they can assist in providing information for the reports.  The committee is notified of any data or information needed to fulfill a report required to be submitted and ensure that the information is provided.  The committee creates an inventory of personal protective equipment (PPE) and related safety equipment needed for the district.  The committee has a working list of all PPE needed for the district, an inventory of what is provided and used at each facility, and develops and monitors the replacement schedule of the PPE.  If PPE is the responsibility of another team or department, then the committee may validate the existing inventory and replacement schedule. 

4. Review each report the district submits to the TxSSC to ensure it contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus, facility, or support service, and follows the criteria established by the TxSSC. [TEC 37.109(b)(4)]  The committee reviews the audit findings and recommendations that are to be presented to the school board.  The committee reviews the overall audit findings, gives feedback on the recommendations, and documents the process in their agenda minutes.  The committee is informed by the district when the TxSSC has asked for any submissions and is informed of what the reports contain to ensure that they are current and correct.  Committee members take the TxSSC’s EOP and School Safety Audit trainings to ensure they understand reporting criteria. 

5. Consult with local law enforcement agencies on how to increase their presence near district campuses. [TEC 37.109(b)(5)]  The committee should include this as an agenda item to ensure these discussions are being held.  The committee communicates with all law enforcement agencies that are responsible for responding to all district facilities (instructional and non-instructional) and invites them to be a part of the discussion. 

6. Select where bleeding control stations are to be placed in schools, ensuring they are in easily accessible areas. [TEC 38.030 (a) and (b)(2) and (c)]  The committee has a working document that lists where all bleeding control stations are placed.  The committee reviews these stations and placements at least annually to ensure that the placement of the stations is still optimal. The bleeding control stations, meaning more than one per campus, must be stored in easily accessible areas of the campus. One possible storage option might be where automated external defibrillators are stored.  The committee may verify that expiration dates have been checked, a replacement schedule exists for items, and a restock process of items is used.  The committee should evaluate if items, in addition to those mandated by legislation, are necessary for bleeding control kits. An example is appropriately sized tourniquets for smaller children on elementary campuses.  The committee reviews, and makes available, the District Traumatic Injury Response Protocol. 

7. Meet together publicly, following Government Code, Chapter 551, at least once each academic semester and during the summer. Notice of a committee meeting must be posted in the same manner as notice of a meeting of the district’s board of trustees. If the district operates on a year-round system, then the committee must meet at least three times per calendar year with at least two months between meetings. Meeting dates are to be included in the district’s EOP. [TEC 37.109(c) and (d), TEC 37.108(f)(8), and Government Code, Chapter 551]  The committee ensures that the meeting dates from the previous year, as required, are in the EOP.  The committee sets their meetings for the year and posts them as required.  The committee works to address the responsibilities of the committee as individual agenda items throughout the year during the set meeting dates. For example: Review and update the EOP and monitor implementation.  The committee participates in the online open meetings training from the Attorney General. The committee should take this training annually and before the first regularly scheduled Committee meeting. 

8. Take training on Psychological First Aid. [TEC 37.108(f)(6)(C)(i)]  The committee takes training from the approved list established by TEA and the TxSSC. 

For this committee to have a significant impact upon the school’s climate and culture, there is a need for representation from various perspectives on school safety and security. As a result, and to the greatest extent practicable, the committee must consist of at least the following individuals whose names are recorded in the district’s multi-hazard emergency operations plan (EOP) [TEC 37.108(f)(8) and TEC 37.109(a-1)]. Charter networks may need to set these up by geographical regions to ensure appropriate representation from local responders and members. 

The statute does not indicate who in the district appoints the committee. In most districts this task will be delegated to the superintendent or the emergency management coordinator, however, the board of trustees may want to appoint the committee members. Individuals who are unable to serve on the committee or who leave the district, require timely replacements. 

The committee, to the greatest extent practical, must include:

1. The city or county’s office of emergency management – at least one representative 

2. The local police department or sheriff’s office – at least one representative 

3. From the board of trustees – the president and at least one other representative of the board

4. The district superintendent

5. From the district - one or more designees of the superintendent, one must be a classroom teacher from the district

6. Parents or guardians of currently enrolled students – at least two 

7. If the district has an instructional partnership with an open-enrollment charter school – a member of the charter schools’ governing body, or their designee 

8. If the district has its own police department – at least one representative

Other collaborative partners may be included and the size of the committee may be adjusted according to the size of the district. 

The committee shall:

Meet at least once during each academic semester and at least once during the summer. A committee established by a school district that operates schools on a year-round system or in accordance with another alternative schedule shall meet at least three times during each calendar year, with an interval of at least two months between each meeting.

The committee is subject to Chapter 551, Government Code (The Texas Open Meetings Act), and may meet in executive 

session as provided by that chapter. Notice of a committee meeting must be posted in the same manner as notice of a meeting of the district's board of trustees. TEC 37.109(d)

TASB: School Safety and Security Committees Published online in TASB School Law eSource 

TASB: Open Meetings Act Meeting Notice Published online in TASB School Law eSource

In accordance with the OMA, committees should vote or take any action in open session. Most Committee discussions and recommendations will be confidential, however, motions and votes should be made in an open meeting but may have to be stated in a way that does not reveal details for the multihazard EOP or other security plans. 

Best practice is for committees to prepare minutes of their open meetings and either certified agendas or confidential audio recordings of their closed sessions.  

Summer Meeting Requirements

• Ensure the committee meeting happens prior to the school year.

• Record membership, date, and time of the meeting.

• Review any campus safety needs.

• The Summer Targeted Partial Safety Audit results and the Exterior Door Safety Audit shall be reviewed by each school's Safety and Security Committee, and can be reviewed in executive session. Audit Results are not subject to disclosure under Ch. 552, Government Code, pursuant to TEC, Sections 37.108, 37.2071, and other relevant statutory provisions. This disclosure exception continues to apply when this information is shared with TEA and TxSSC. Neither TEA nor TxSSC will publicly disclose any individual LEA information found in these data but will only provide aggregate state-level data summaries.

• Review Emergency Operations Plan.

• Review Active Threat Plan and include district actions for all five phases of emergency management (TEC 37.108) and address portable buildings (TEC 37.108 (3)).

Note: Districts are required to conduct a safety and security audit of all district facilities on a 3-year cycle.  The is an internal report for use by campus and district administration and should remain confidential. 

This report is not sent to the Texas School Safety Center but should be used in developing improvement plans, other district reports, and as a tool to assist in the completion of the District Audit Reporting Tool (DARtool) for submission to TxSSC. 

The School Safety and Security Committee should review the audit findings and each report that is required to be submitted to the TxSSC to ensure that the report contains accurate and complete information regarding each campus, facility or support service.

The Committee will assist with the  Emergency Operations Plan to be reviewed every 12 months.  

The current three-year school district safety and security cycle for school districts began on November 1, 2020 and will end on August 31, 2023. School District safety and security audits required by Texas Education Code (TEC) 37.108 must be completed during that cycle. The COVID 19 extension for the 2017-2020 school district audits resulted in the changes to the school district 2020-2023 audit cycle. The current cycle will therefore be two months shorter for the 2020-2023 audit cycle for school districts. 

Safety Audits

• September 2020 - August 2023 - Public schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities

• September 2019 - August 2022 - Charter schools should conduct a safety audit of facilities

District Audit Reports

• At the end of the Safety Audit process, schools will be required to submit a District Audit Report to Texas School Safety Center.

• August 2023 Public schools expected deadline.

• August 2022 Charter schools expected deadline.

TxSSC Audit Toolkit

A district's failure to report the results of its safety audit will result in the TxSSC providing written notice to the district of its failure to comply. If three months after the date of the initial notification by TxSSC the district still has not report the results of its audit, TxSSC shall notify TEA of the district's requirement to conduct a public hearing under TEC 37.1081.

• Formalize meeting by having an agenda and keeping meeting minutes

• Determine the goals and objectives of the committee

• Train committee members

• Report out on project the committee is working on to improve safety

• Establish a mechanism for reporting of safety issues

• Celebrate successes

TEC § Sec. 37.109  SCHOOL SAFETY AND SECURITY COMMITTEE 

TEC Sec. 37.108 (f)(6)(c)  Psychological First Aid Training 

TASB: School Safety and Security Committees Published online in TASB School Law eSource 

TASB: Open Meetings Act Meeting Notice Published online in TASB School Law eSource

CK (LEGAL) Districts should refer to their own (LEGAL & LOCAL) board policy.

CKC (LEGAL) Districts should refer to their own (LEGAL & LOCAL) board policy.

CKD (LEGAL) Districts should refer to their own (LEGAL & LOCAL) board policy.

CKE (LEGAL) Districts should refer to their own (LEGAL & LOCAL) board policy.

DH (LEGAL) Districts should refer to their own (LEGAL & LOCAL) board policy.

Title IVA State Initiative School Safety Guidance

• 2023 Texas School Safety Center: School Safety and Security Committee Guidelines and FAQs TEC 37.109

• Keep 'Em Safe Texas (gun storage website)

• SchoolSafety.gov - Emergency Planning

• SchoolSafety.gov - School Safety Resources

• TASB - Adopting and Implementing a Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)

• TASB - Emergency Management for Texas Public Schools, November 2022

• TASB - Firearms on School District Property, January 2022

• TASB - Knives on School District Property, January 2022

• TASB - Metal Detectors in Schools, December 2022

• TASB - Options for Employing School Safety Personnel in Texas Public Schools

• TASB - Safety and Emergency Management Resources (webpage)

• TASB - School Marshals and Other School District Personnel Carrying Firearms, January 2022

• TASB - School Cybersecurity: Texas Requirements, November 2021

• TASB - School Safety and Security Committees FAQ

• TASB - School Safety Services (webpage)

• TASB - Student Discipline for Firearms at School, May 2022

• Additional Legal Citations

  1. TEC § 37.108 (Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan; Safety & Security Audit)

  2. TEC § 37.109 (School Safety And Security Committee)

  3. TEC § 37.2091 (Registry Of Persons Providing School Safety or Security Consulting Services)

  4. Chapter 551, Government Code

• Superintendent Monthly Reminders for School Safety

• TEA House Bill 3 Model Standards for Parent Notification

• TEA Parent Notification - Sample Notification Text and Emails (Scripts)

• TxSSC 86th Legislative Updates/Committee Guidance

• TxSSC Safe Firearms Storage Resources (Flyer)

• TxSSC Sample Committee Agenda

• TxSSC Continuity of Operations Plan Toolkit

• TxSSC Emergency Operation Plan Toolkit

• TxSSC Facilities Access Management Toolkit

• TxSSC School Safety and Security Audit Toolkit

• TxSSC School Safety and Security Audit Toolkit Forms

• TxSSC - School Safety and Security Committee FAQ 

• TxSSC School Safety Resources

• USDE - The Role of Districts in Developing High-Quality School Emergency Operations Plans, September 2019