Edgewood ISD police and counseling leaders outline prevention, threat-assessment and mental-health partnerships

Edgewood ISD’s chief of police and the director of guidance and counseling presented the district’s safety and mental-health plans during the Aug. 19 meeting, highlighting prevention, threat assessment and community partnerships intended to identify students at risk and reduce campus incidents.

Chief Eppy Quiroga said the district emphasizes prevention and community connection as core elements of school safety. "We practice a lot of prevention so that we can avoid some of the issues that we see going on in the world," he said, describing officer involvement that ranges from threat assessment to helping families access housing, food and therapy when social services are needed.

Manuela Nochez, the district’s director of guidance and counseling and social work, described coordinated response protocols that involve counselors, social workers and campus officers when a student presents a high-risk threat or behavioral concern. She said the district uses safety planning, outside mental-health referrals, and follow-up monitoring, and that staff receive training on recognizing signs and symptoms of crisis.

Presenters noted specific partnerships: the district works with Region 20 services for trauma-informed training and has ongoing collaborations with local mental-health agencies. The chief also said the district assigns specially trained campus officers who work with counselors on threat assessments and safety planning. A district representative told trustees the district also partners with the municipal court on truancy work and is pursuing additional community-based programming.

The presenters described several programs and supports already in place, including violence-intervention curricula that combine law-enforcement involvement and counseling, family workshops on trauma and stigma reduction, and school-year outreach such as holiday meal and gift drives for families identified by counselors.

Board members asked clarifying questions about partners and training. A trustee pointed out that Region 20 offers a school psychological first-aid training that committee members and staff can take; staff said they would provide access to that training. The director said information and resources are posted on the district website, and the superintendent noted the district provides contact details for both the chief and the director for families who need assistance.

Ending

Presenters asked the community to partner on prevention and to bring concerns to counseling and police staff so the district can respond quickly. The board thanked the presenters and noted the materials will remain available on the district website.