Board discusses intruder-detection audit, holds executive session and approves hiring of safety director
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Summary
Laredo ISD trustees received a district intruder-detection audit report from the Texas Education Agency center, moved sensitive discussion to executive session and later approved a recommendation to hire Dr. Eugenio Reyes as director of safety initiatives amid calls for a board workshop to plan safety administration.
Laredo ISD officials told trustees on Oct. 16 that the district had received an intruder-detection audit from the Texas Education Agency center conducted as part of statewide school-safety directives. Interim Superintendent Guillermo Pro read the prepared statement and said specific audit details would not be disclosed publicly because releasing them "could compromise campus security." The board moved the item into executive session under Texas Government Code A7 551.076 to discuss the findings with the Laredo School Safety and Security Committee and legal counsel.
After returning to open session, the board reported that no action was taken in executive session on the audit detail items. The meeting later included a separate agenda item to approve the recommendation to hire a director of safety initiatives; trustees approved the hire 5'. Trustee discussion before and after the executive session focused on the district—s staffing for safety, budgeting for new positions and a request from trustees to schedule a workshop to study district-level administrative roles and a phased approach to adding positions.
What was said
- Interim Superintendent Guillermo Pro read a statement that the intruder detection audit was conducted on Oct. 6, 2025, as part of the governor's school-safety directives following Uvalde. He emphasized the district—s commitment to safety and said the state audit helps identify where campuses can improve security, including whether exterior doors are secure.
- Pro said it was "in the best interest of the students" not to release specific audit findings publicly because of security concerns; the board moved to executive session to discuss the details with legal counsel and the safety committee.
- Trustee Dr. Gilberto Martinez Jr. said he opposed approving an additional director position on fiscal grounds while the district is addressing budget constraints; he clarified his objection was to creating the position rather than the candidate. Other trustees asked for a workshop to examine administrative needs and phase in positions if necessary.
Why it matters
The district is taking actions recommended in a state-conducted audit and is adjusting staffing for safety operations. Trustees— request for a workshop indicates they want to set policy-level priorities for safety roles and how those costs fit in the budget before creating multiple new administrative positions.
Next steps
The board directed staff to continue safety work with the district safety committee and legal counsel and requested a board workshop to present a phased plan for administrative safety roles and any related budget implications. Administration also will proceed with onboarding the approved director of safety initiatives as part of normal personnel processes.
Ending
Because the audit includes security-sensitive details, the board withheld specifics from the public record and discussed the findings in executive session. Trustees voted to hire the recommended director of safety initiatives and asked staff to return with more detailed planning and cost information in a dedicated workshop.
