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Katy ISD proposes Flip Lock classroom devices for all attendance classrooms; board asked to fund installation from 2023 bond savings
Summary
The district requested board approval to buy and install about 11,000 Flip Lock classroom devices for doors where attendance is taken, citing code compliance and fire‑marshal approvals; administration proposed using savings from the 2023 bond authorization to fund purchase and installation prior to the 2025–26 school year.
Katy ISD Chief of Police David Bridal and Director of Emergency Management Gruber Martinez presented a proposal on March 24 for districtwide installation of Flip Lock classroom door devices, describing the device as a one‑motion locking mechanism designed to provide an added visual and mechanical layer for staff and students in a lockdown.
Bridal said the device “works on both inward and outward swinging doors,” allows egress in a single motion using the existing door mechanism, and complies with the International Building Code, ADA standards and 2015 life‑safety standards. He said the district had secured written approval from fire marshals with jurisdiction in Katy ISD for installation.
Administration asked the board to approve purchase and installation of Flip Lock devices in every classroom where attendance is taken, representing roughly 11,000 units districtwide, and proposed funding the work from savings in the 2023 bond authorization. Chief Bridal said Flip Lock would use vendor installation teams and coordinate with district crews to install hardware after hours and during summer to meet the target of having units in place before the 2025–26 school year if the board approved funding.
Funding and timing questions: Trustees asked whether the purchase would use the 2023 bond savings or another authorization and whether the district could move quickly enough to install before school starts. Administration replied that the 2023 authorization includes sufficient savings to cover the purchase and that the March budget amendment could be amended or the administration could override a requisition to secure ordering and installation timing.
Why it matters: Trustees who are parents and who raised classroom safety as a priority during prior national incidents emphasized the benefit of visible, teacher‑operated locking measures and said they expected high demand. Bridal said the devices would remain unused except in emergency lockdowns and would be an additional layer to existing security measures such as vestibules, access control and cameras.
Next steps: Administration will include the Flip Lock purchase in the March amendment if the board is ready to proceed next week; otherwise, staff said they will secure the vendor requisition to ensure installation can occur this summer if funding is approved.
