Forney ISD outlines expanded safety, wellness and mental-health supports, says some audit details will remain confidential
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Summary
Forney ISD presented a comprehensive safety and wellness update that included plans to hire campus officers, deploy weapons-detection technology and expand mental-health services; district leaders said intruder-audit findings will not be shared publicly to avoid compromising campus security.
Forney Independent School District leaders on Monday detailed a yearlong set of safety and wellness actions that include hiring more sworn officers, new weapons-detection technology, expanded counseling services and digital-safety training.
"With almost 20,000 students in Forney ISD," Kristen Zaspel, the district's chief of communications, told trustees as she introduced the annual update, "we believe in the net philosophy" of layered safety supports. The presentation named partnerships with local first responders, expanded camera systems, a keyless badge system, and a districtwide anonymous reporting app as parts of that approach.
Chief Jason Saunders of the Forney ISD Police Department said the department is "committing to hire a police officer for every campus," noting the department currently has 31 sworn officers with several pending hires. He also described recent training, door checks and TEA-mandated safety audits as part of the district's ongoing work to make campuses safer.
Saunders summarized the intruder-detection audit process and the district's response, saying the audits "test whether the campus is accessible to unauthorized individuals." He added that specific audit details were discussed in executive session and would not be released, stating that public disclosure "could lead to a compromising and important campus security information." The board did not seek to press further for public release.
The update also covered non-security supports: the district described telehealth behavioral services (T CHAT) that served 415 students last year and 51 so far this year; on-site health clinics staffed by registered nurses; and a partnership with Goodside Health for virtual doctor visits. The district said all employees with access to student data complete annual cybersecurity training and that media specialists teach a certified "Common Sense" digital-citizenship curriculum.
District officials outlined additional investments funded by state and grant programs, including bullet-resistant window film, a silent panic-alert system and weapons-detection systems at larger campuses. Robin Pierce, who oversees student supports, described the district's crisis team deployment, student-support counselors (15 currently districtwide) and quarterly guidance-visit tracking meant to shape counseling resources.
Board members did not take new formal action on the safety recommendations during the presentation; staff said many of the actions are already underway and that some items, such as intruder-audit specifics, must remain confidential to preserve security. The district also urged legislators to consider changes to state law to allow broader local disciplinary responses; presenters noted limits under Chapter 37 of the Texas Education Code and the Penal Code on administrators' disciplinary options.
What happens next: staff said the safety and wellness handout is available on the district website and invited trustees and community members to follow up with the administration for further details that can be shared without compromising security.