Leander ISD implemented a new tool designed to increase the safety of students at all its elementary campuses. The Raptor V-Soft visitor management system will help keep campuses safer by producing uniform badges for all visitors.

Each visitor will be asked to present a valid photo I.D. card the first time he or she visits the school. (Examples of acceptable photo I.D. cards are: state issued driver’s licenses or identification cards, official identification cards from many countries, or military identification cards.) The visitor is issued a badge with their photo that indicates when and where they are visiting. Once in the system, parents/visitors will not need to present their I.D., and can be issued a visitor badge by simply providing his or her name. In a time where we are used to presenting our driver’s licenses to write checks or rent videos, we’re certain our visitors will understand that a few extra seconds is well worth the added safety our new system provides our students.

All elementary campuses limit access into the building during the school day so that no unannounced person has unauthorized access to our students.

Leander ISD secondary campuses have school resource officers (SROs) -- police officers with the Cedar Park and Leander police departments, as well as the Travis County Constables Office, who work at these campuses under a LISD contract. In addition, each elementary campuses assigned to one of these officers. Officers are familiar, trusted faces for our students, and are knowledgeable about our district security policies and procedures.

Leander ISD's Risk Management and Safety Department has worked with local emergency responders, law enforcement agencies and campus representatives to upgrade and standardize safety and security procedures at all LISD campuses. This updated plan is in the hands of all district principals, assistant principals, counselors and SROs, assuring immediate, consistent action in any hazardous situation that threatens student safety.

Definitions for securing building during a normal school day:
 

• Lockdown – means that the campus will lock all doors and not allow anyone to enter or leave the campus.  This event is typically under the directive of local law enforcement and/or emergency management.

• Shelter-in-Place  – means that the campus may lock all doors, limit anyone from entering or leaving the campus and may allow normal movement within the building, as situation allows.  Outside activities will be suspended and portables will be brought into the campus.  If the event is for severe weather, additional protocols will be activated.  If the event changes, a lockdown may be activated.  This event is typically under the directive of local law enforcement, fire department and/or emergency management. 

Law enforcement and emergency management officials have asked that Leander ISD provide them with a uniform Emergency Management information when they are called to any district campus. This information will include, among other items: a map of the campus layout with numbered rooms; gas/electricity shutoff points; evacuation plans; and, the names of principals, assistant principals and other key personnel.

Training
All Leander ISD teachers and staff receive ongoing safety and security measure training based on the LISD Crisis Management Plan. Refresher training continues throughout each school year. Crisis management information is posted in every Leander ISD classroom, and is included in the information folder of every substitute teacher district-wide.

All Leander ISD teachers have access to a phone in his or her classroom. Every LISD teacher/staff member is required to wear a district-provided security badge, which serves as that staff member's key to enter the campus. The District has systematically placed card-reader access locks on all campuses.

Leander ISD has installed automated external defibrillators (AEDs) on all campuses in order to improve the chance of survival from sudden cardiac arrest while waiting the arrival of emergency responders.

Leander ISD has installed security cameras in all secondary campuses for property protection and asset control.

TEC §37.0832 - “Bullying” means engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related-activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:
1.) has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property; or
2.) is sufficiently severe, persistent and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.

Conduct described in the definition of “bullying” is considered bullying if the conduct:
1.) exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator and the student victim through written or verbal expression or physical conduct; and
2.) interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.

As another prevention effort, Leander ISD conducts searches by trained canines of our secondary campuses and parking lots. These searches are aimed not only at ensuring that drugs are not brought onto our campuses, but also at keeping these campuses weapon-free. The district is also implementing three distinct voluntary drug-testing programs at our secondary campuses. Students and parents asked for these programs as a way to help Leander ISD students "say no" to drugs, and to keep our campus learning environments safe and secure.