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Midway ISD to continue claiming good-cause exception to commissioned officer requirement under House Bill 121
Summary
Facing a funding gap greater than state safety dollars provided, Midway ISD recommended continuing its current campus safety model rather than immediately placing a commissioned peace officer on every campus as House Bill 121 contemplates; trustees included the exception resolution on the consent agenda.
Midway Independent School District administrators recommended Tuesday that the board continue to claim the statutory "good cause" exception that allows districts to avoid placing a commissioned peace officer on every campus under House Bill 121, citing a nearly $1 million shortfall to convert existing safety staff into commissioned officers.
Dr. Allen, the district superintendent, told trustees the law requires at least one commissioned peace officer on each campus unless a district meets the statute—s good-cause conditions (for example, insufficient funding or inability to recruit qualified personnel) and that the district must re-evaluate the exception annually. He said the district currently employs five MISD police officers (two at the high school, one at each middle school, plus the chief) and nine campus safety and security specialists who do not meet commissioned peace-officer qualifications.
The administration presented a funding breakdown: the district received $286,664 in additional safety dollars from the Legislature (House Bill 2), but an unfunded mandate requiring breaching tools and ballistic shields adds roughly $50,000 of expense, leaving net new funds of about $236,664 for fiscal 2025-26. Converting campus safety specialists to commissioned peace officers and equipping them would cost about $1,200,000, the administration estimated, producing a projected shortfall of approximately $969,666. Based on that calculation, Dr. Allen recommended continuing to claim the good-cause exception; trustees approved the consent agenda, which included a resolution reflecting that recommendation, unanimously.
Trustees also noted the change in law requires an annual re-examination of the exception. Dr. Allen said the Legislature—s decision to maintain the exception but require yearly review was informative to the district—s approach.
Ending: The board approved the consent agenda, including the good-cause exception resolution. The district indicated administrators will review the funding, personnel availability and potential future steps at least annually as required by statute.
