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Del Valle ISD plans pilot of Athena visitor and student‑screening system to evaluate campus screening options
Summary
Chief Robert Vela recommended piloting an Austin‑based screening system, Athena, to evaluate visitor and student screening effectiveness and deployment; the board asked about roll‑out timing and noted security items will be discussed in closed session as appropriate.
Del Valle ISD police and safety leadership presented a recommendation to pilot the Athena visitor and student screening system, an Austin‑based vendor, as part of the district’s broader school safety and security efforts.
Chief Robert Vela said Athena ranked highly in the district’s vendor review for effectiveness, deployment and maintenance. Administration recommended a small pilot to evaluate the system in a real‑time school setting and to inform any future district‑wide deployment.
Trustees asked about implementation timing and whether screening technology would require changes to other campus policies (for example, clear‑bag/backpack rules); administration said timing would be set after board approval of a pilot and that additional security items would be addressed in closed session as appropriate.
Why it matters: Visitor and screening systems relate directly to campus security practices and resource needs; a pilot will test usability and operational impacts before wider adoption.
What’s next: Administration requested authority to pilot the system and to return with evaluation results and a recommendation about district‑wide implementation.
