Canyon ISD trustees voted unanimously Aug. 25 to renew the district’s annual “good-cause” exception that allows trained, non-law-enforcement employees (known as guardians) to be armed on campus during the instructional day, and later approved two specific employees to possess firearms under Board policy.

The renewal implements a provision referenced by district staff as Texas Education Code Section 37.0814 and reflects changes passed in the state legislative session, which require districts to maintain armed personnel on campus. “The law states we have to have an armed personnel on campus at all times during the instructional day,” a district staff member told the board during the safety briefing.

Why it matters: the good-cause exception lets Canyon ISD staff and law-enforcement partners mix guardians and school resource officers so campuses can meet the statutory requirement even where a full-time SRO is not yet assigned. The board’s action keeps the exception in place while the district continues to pursue SRO coverage.

Board action and context: administrators recommended renewing the exception annually as required by the new legislation. The motion to renew passed on a unanimous voice vote after a motion by a trustee and a second; the board then moved to approve a separate personnel list of two employees authorized to possess firearms under local policy CKED. That personnel motion passed with a unanimous vote of trustees present except for one recusal: a trustee who said she had not been in closed session recused herself and was recorded as recused; the board announced the resulting vote as unanimous with that recusal.

What administrators said: during the safety update, a staff member identified as Robin said the district was close to completing a long-awaited communications upgrade, describing the lockdown capability as nearly operational: “The lockdown buttons are active to 9‑1‑1, and so it is actually coming to fruition, and I’m so happy to see that.” Robin also told trustees the district had expanded SRO coverage by adding officers from the Canyon Police Department, the Randall County Sheriff’s Office and the Amarillo Police Department and that campuses would be covered by November–December.

Next steps and limits: the board voted to authorize the superintendent to implement the district’s alternative standard and to renew the exception each year as required. The board directed administrators to continue coordinating with law enforcement on SRO staffing. The board’s action does not itself change the district’s training or certification requirements for guardians; administrators said guardians must complete certification and ongoing scenario training, and that the district would continue to offer additional training with outside partners.

Documents and law: staff referenced Texas Education Code Section 37.0814 and recent session law changes affecting safety and guardian programs; board materials presented a recommended resolution and a personnel list for approval.

Ending: trustees said they expect additional safety work this year as the communications system, training and SRO coverage are completed.