Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Conroe ISD committee approves access-control update for CTE roll-up doors
Loading...
Summary
The Conroe ISD School Safety and Security Committee approved an amendment to district access-control procedures allowing CTE roll-up doors to remain open for ventilation when actively monitored behind approved gating, funded by a Cycle 2 grant and to be embedded in the district MEOP.
Conroe Independent School District’s School Safety and Security Committee on April 24 approved an amendment to the district’s access-control procedures to address roll-up doors in career and technical education (CTE) labs.
The committee approved language allowing instructional areas that require ventilation — for example, welding and automotive labs — to remain open for ventilation only when actively monitored behind installed locked and secure area fencing or behind installed security folding gates as approved by the Conroe ISD Safety and Security Committee. The change will be embedded in the district’s access-control procedures and the Multi Hazard Emergency Operations Plan (MEOP).
Ethan, a staff member, told the committee the issue arises from how the Texas Education Agency defines exterior doors and that TEA guidance treats roll-up doors as exterior doors, which creates a conflict when labs need ventilation. He said the district’s plan, developed with CTE director Tali Stout and Marshall Schroeder, the executive director of Maintenance, is to install scissor/folding gates that lock across the opening when the roll-up door is open. “And it’s all depending upon what the TEA defines as an exterior door,” Ethan said. He read the draft instructional language that will be added to the access-control procedures: “instructional areas that require ventilation, for example, welding automotive tech, are allowed to remain open for ventilation only when actively monitored behind installed locked and secure area fencing or behind installed security folding gates as approved by the Conroe ISD Safety and Security Committee.”
Committee members asked about gate height, visibility and the potential for a person to climb or jump the barrier. Ethan said the district reviewed several options with Marshall Schroeder and Tali Stout and will choose gates that reduce visibility through the gate (smaller diamond openings). He said the work is an allowable expenditure under a Cycle 2 grant the district received and that Marshall Schroeder’s team is prepared to start installation once the committee approved the amendment; the committee voted to approve the change and the motion passed by voice vote with no opposition or abstentions.
The committee discussion said the solution will be applied at every high school campus; Ethan confirmed that “all of the high schools” will receive the gates and said the district expects installation to occur over the summer. The amendment language will include an effective date and be inserted into the MEOP and access-control procedures to document TEA compliance.
Votes at a glance - Approve amendment to access-control procedures (CTE roll-up doors/approved folding gates). Motion and second given; approved by voice vote, no opposition or abstentions.
Ending The committee approved the amendment and authorized staff to proceed with the federally/regionally funded Cycle 2 grant installation plan; Marshall Schroeder and the maintenance team will oversee campus-by-campus implementation after approval.
