Walsworth highlights the district's proactive safety and security efforts, focusing on protecting students from dangerous activities such as vaping and fentanyl. Walsworth also addresses the growing concerns around social media threats and bullying. Additionally, he shares valuable resources available for students, parents, and caregivers to help keep everyone informed and safe. Tune in for an important conversation about maintaining a secure environment in Tyler ISD.

All of our police officers have completed the Active Shooter Response for School-Based Law Enforcement class, including training beyond the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center (ALERRT) program as a part of our current safety and security standards and additional training well beyond current requirements and safety security standards.

Staff and substitutes are trained annually on specific district and campus safety procedures, including active shooter training, and mandatory drills are scheduled before the start of the school year. Each campus has a school behavioral threat assessment team that is trained and has reviewed procedures for that campus.

We have expanded our camera system with approximately 2,000 cameras monitoring student and staff safety, including access cameras at all entrances to visitors. Also, our bus camera system has been updated, and we’ve improved outdoor lighting at many of our facilities.

Our Board of Trustees and Superintendent can authorize specific employees to have access to certain firearms in schools, at board meetings, and at school-sponsored or school-related events on District property, to the extent allowed by law.

Each employee approved to have access to a firearm on District property will have extensive hours of specialized training in crisis intervention, management of hostage situations, and other topics the Board may determine necessary before they are ever allowed to be a part of the Guardian Program.

We have lightning detectors on all outdoor facilities, including practice fields, tennis courts, baseball, softball, and football fields, middle and high school tracks, and the pool at the Career and Technology Center.

Our warning systems will detect lightning within one mile, and use audible alert messages, a horn and a light to indicate potential danger until the area is lightning free for at least 30 minutes.

Officer Jeffery Arnold is the handler for K-9 Beny. Beny is trained to detect the odor of controlled substances, including marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and MDMA. Officer Arnold and Beny are certified as a narcotics detection team by Pacesetter K-9 and the National Narcotic Detector Dog Association (NNDDA). Beny has a 100% reliability rate in his certifications and was recertified with NNDDA in February 2023.

Officer Arnold and Beny routinely conduct random searches at all of our secondary campuses, including the parking lots.

Security planning and implementation is critical to keep students and staff safe in our facilities. All of our campuses have single points of entry ensuring increased safety measures for students and staff.

The concept of a security vestibule is that visitors enter the vestibule.

Next, they are required to enter the office to check in before gaining access to the rest of the building.

The set of doors between the vestibule and the school remain locked and only open out.

In addition to the added security of knowing who is visiting the school, a security vestibule also serves as a single point of entrance for students who are late to school or coming from an appointment, because all other doors to the school remain locked while school is in session.

Vape detectors accurately monitor the quality of air to detect dangerous vaping chemicals when present in school bathrooms and send notification alerts to assigned faculty members.

We have more than 110 vape detectors at all secondary campuses and the Career & Technology Center.

Possessing vaping products, e-cigarettes, and tobacco products is illegal for those under 21. Students caught vaping on Tyler ISD grounds will receive a Class C misdemeanor citation and a fine of up to $100. Students caught with a vape or e-cigarette will be sent to our Discipline Alternative Education Program (DAEP). If the vaping device has any other substance like THC oil, the student will be arrested on felony charges.

Learn more on our Vaping Webpage