GISD Armed To Protect

Last year the Groesbeck ISD school board watched the devastation of schools across the country being forced to prepare for the unthinkable – the potential of a school shooting and considered appropriate policies. The Board updated local policy, authorizing a School Safety “Guardian” Program (TX Govt. Code 411.1901). Its purpose is to provide students and faculties an armed selfdefense option prior to the arrival of Law Enforcement in the event of an active shooter or “active killer” on campus.

Signs are being installed this week, posted on all Groesbeck ISD campuses which state: “ATTENTION: GISD STAFF ARE ARMED AND TRAINED TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.”

Large signs will be displayed at all parking/driveway entrances and similar signs will be attached to all building entrances.

“First, we do not believe we are forcing staff to become police officers nor do we believe we are better equipped to deal with a threat than law enforcement. “Guardians” are designed to provide students and faculties an armed self-defense option prior to the arrival of law enforcement in the event of an active shooter or “active killer” on campus,”

The Groesbeck ISD Board approved the Guardian Program on July 25, 2022, in an open meeting. The board approved a resolution amending board policy to reflect that classroom doors would be closed and locked during instruction times and to permit the authorization of certain individuals to carry a concealed firearm on GISD properties.

Although the program has been in place for almost a year, the Board of Trustees recently gave approval to the district to make the program more visible. By providing the community with this information and by placing signs up across the campuses, they are taking additional steps so that people know GISD is NOT an ‘easy target’.

The Guardians are GISD staff members who have passed strict requirements and training. In order to protect them from becoming targets of an intruder, their names are confidential and are not to be released. Figueroa asks that names not be guessed at nor rumors passed in an attempt to protect these individuals.

Only active law enforcement and Board approved GISD Guardians have the authority to carry a concealed handgun on school grounds. Only those who have gone through extensive training and met all requirements will be allowed to carry. Please continue to be aware that any gun rumored to be on campus or seen on campus or in its facilities should be reported immediately.

“I am proud to have been part of a Guardian program in my last three districts and I am proud that GISD had this program when I arrived,” said Figueroa. “My responsibility is to ensure we properly train our Guardians and that we properly communicate this program to our community.”

For more information about the Guardian program, please contact District Administration at 254-729-4100.