Parents and students press Comal ISD for transparency, safety fixes after Hill Country Prep shooting

At a April 23 Comal ISD Board of Trustees meeting, parents and students pressed the district for clearer answers and faster action after a March 30 shooting at Hill Country College Preparatory High School, arguing that communication gaps and changes to admissions have undermined trust.

The meeting’s public-comment period featured multiple speakers who described lingering safety concerns, lapses in district communications, and changes to the school’s admissions process that they say contributed to overcrowding and academic stress. Parent Shauna Myron told trustees, “Transparency should not require repeated requests from families, emails unanswered, phone calls not returned,” and said families want a forum to get answers about investigations and interventions underway.

Other commenters echoed calls for concrete steps. Parent Pete Myin criticized the pace and specificity of messaging after the incident and urged a prompt, public retrospective that identifies who will make changes and by when. Student Kylie Texler described hiding in an unlocked restroom stall the day of the incident and recommended two practical safety measures: installing interior door locks on bathroom stalls and, if budget allows, adopting metal detectors or handheld screening wands. “The safest I have felt on campus since March 30th was item pickup when my freshman and sophomore English teacher hugged me and said, ‘I am so happy you are here,’” Texler said.

Oscar Sanchez asked the district to produce districtwide safety-incident summaries from 2021–2026 that would show incident type, response times and outcomes without revealing confidential student information. Several speakers also raised concerns about a change in admissions at Hill Country Prep; Karina Dudai said the current freshman cohort did not undergo the individualized interviews that earlier students had, and that she believes “one point over a third of the freshman class was failing at least one class.”

Board president Courtney Bias acknowledged the concern and announced that Superintendent Dr. Chapman is forming a Comal ISD Safety and Security Task Force made up of parents, staff and community members to examine safety practices across the district; applications opened the same week. Bias said the task force will develop recommendations for the district safety and security committee.

No board action on changes to admissions was taken at the meeting; several parents asked for a near-term public meeting so families can hear the results of any internal reviews and what will change. The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for May 28, 2026, and applications for the task force remain open as the district develops next steps.