Join Sheriffs in Urging Action to Address Schools' Technology Needs.
East Texas -- After learning about law enforcement concerns related to school safety, and specifically the need for technological improvements to prepare for emergency situations, a group of concerned parents is demanding action.
“Last week, we learned that our local East Texas law enforcement officers are worried because many of our communities don’t have the technology needed to immediately communicate with one another and to securely see real-time video inside of a school in the event of an emergency,” parent Christin Bentley said. “With all the discussion about making our schools safer after Uvalde, this should be addressed - before it’s too late,” she continued.
School safety was one of the items listed on Governor Greg Abbott’s emergency list, giving it a priority among other legislative items. Technology upgrades are one of the specific ways Abbott mentioned he hoped to improve school safety. The specific technology the East Texas law enforcement officers requested would allow all first responders to immediately communicate with one another and to see real-time video inside the school in the event of an emergency. In the case of a school shooter, the technology would give officers the exact location of a perpetrator as well as the layout of the building.
“We know our school leaders. We work closely with them day in and day out as they educate our kids and keep them safe,” Kay Burton said. “We stand with our law enforcement leaders and our school leaders and ask the state government to please provide the resources they need so that if God forbid, a tragedy happens, we have the tools in East Texas to deal with it,” she concluded.
The parents say they will continue to follow this situation throughout the legislative process to ensure schools and law enforcement have what is needed to keep East Texas students safe in their classrooms.