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Liberty Hill ISD board updates policy to allow school marshal or guardian program
Summary
Trustees approved a CKE local policy update to permit the district to adopt either the state‑licensed school marshal program or a locally governed guardian program in the future; presenters said the change is a planning step and any implementation would take 6–12 months.
The Liberty Hill ISD board voted July 20 to update board policy CKE to authorize the district to adopt, in the future, either a state‑licensed school marshal program or a locally governed guardian program.
Dr. Alex Salazar (presenting) told trustees the update is intended to give the district flexibility to maintain campus coverage when vacancies occur and to plan proactively rather than reactively. "We currently are in compliance with Texas education code ... we have at least one armed district police officer assigned at every campus," he said, and the policy change would allow the district to use marshals or guardians in addition to sworn officers.
Chief Gardner described the district’s current staffing and oversight: the district has a chief of police, two sergeants and 14 officers assigned across campuses. He said school marshals are licensed through state oversight and have periodic training and reporting requirements, while a guardian program would be overseen by local board policy. "Both of them add an extra layer of support to assist the district," Chief Gardner said. He added that current officers hold certified mental‑health training and the district partners with local law enforcement and first responders for support.
District presenters and the superintendent emphasized the policy change is not an immediate implementation plan. Staff said any implementation would likely take six to 12 months, could begin with existing employees who meet criteria (with a stipend) rather than hiring new personnel, and that marshals have state licensing while guardians would be governed locally. Trustees asked procedural and training questions; Chief Gardner said certification maintenance is on a two‑year cycle with weapons qualification done annually and range practice two to three times a year.
The board approved the policy update by motion; the chair announced the motion carried.
Why it matters: The policy broadens the district’s authorized options for campus security and clarifies that any future program would supplement, not replace, sworn district officers. That change affects hiring, training, and local oversight and could alter who is placed on campus during staffing gaps.
The district said it will return with formal implementation details and eligibility and vetting criteria if it pursues a marshal or guardian program.
