Three in-person dates – Nov. 18, Nov. 20 and Dec. 10 – were added to the calendar, where parents had an opportunity to hear from leaders involved with safety and security, emergency services, student support services, health services and counseling services. Read More

The presentation and video of the November 18 event can be found here.

In Leander ISD, the partnership between the district and parents serves as the foundation in benefiting students and keeping them safe. It takes all of us.

In response to community requests for educational awareness on topics of safety and security, along with health and wellness, we launched Empowering Parents.

Summit

Empowering Parents Summit

In the fall of 2022, Leander ISD hosted the Empowering Parents Summit, pulling together district leaders and community partners to answer questions from our community about substance abuse, particularly the use of fentanyl, while also addressing concerns about campus safety and security.

Substance Abuse

Fentanyl Awareness

What is Fentanyl (and what is its Impact)?

  • Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 50–100 times more potent than morphine, often lethal with as little as 2 milligrams.
  • Over 71,000 Americans died from fentanyl in 2021, an increase of 23 percent from the previous year.
  • Over that same period, Texas saw an 89 percent increase in fentanyl-related fatalities, with provisional data showing 1,672 deaths in 2021 as compared to 883 in 2020.
  • The United States Drug Enforcement Agency Laboratory has found that, of the fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills analyzed in 2022, six out of ten now contain a potentially lethal dose of fentanyl.

How to Recognize the Signs of an Overdose

  • A person will appear to be unresponsive; may have irregular breathing; may appear gray, blue, or have pale skin color; and may have very small pupils.

What to do if you Suspect an Overdose

  • Call 911 immediately or direct someone nearby to call and say that you are supporting a suspected overdose.
  • Administer Naloxone. Even though the person is unresponsive: 1) announce that you are going to give naloxone 2) spray the naloxone in the person’s nose. To find out more information about Naloxone, visit the NIDA Naloxone Drug Facts page.
  • Follow instructions of the 911 operator.

Additional Resources

Jessica Duncan Cance, MPH, PhD, shares a presentation titled “Drugs & Youth: What We All Need to Know.” In the presentation, Cance speaks on substance abuse, opioids, fentanyl, naloxone (Narcan).

Key Takeaways

  • Teen brains are vulnerable
  • Alcohol is still the most used substance
  • Counterfeit pills are a threat
  • Naloxone saves lives
  • Alcohol and drug use is preventable

Resources

Campus Safety & Security

Leander ISD Risk Management Director Darla Humes and Security Director Russell Bundy share a presentation on safety and security within the district. In the presentation, Humes and Bundy speak to the proactive measures LISD takes to be ready in case of an emergency.

Community Partner Panel

A panel of community partners and district representatives answered questions from our community about substance abuse, particularly the use of fentanyl, while also addressing concerns about campus safety and security.

Index of Questions Asked of Panelists

Use the links below to jump directly to a specific question from the full panel discussion displayed above.