The 2023-2024 school year is three weeks away with the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 21. Following is an overview of the district's Safety & Security initiatives for the new school year.

Before entering a school this year, you will notice a new safety feature. The new addition is a video intercom system located on an exterior wall near the entrance of each campus. The system will be marked with a yellow sign.

 

In order to enter the school, every visitor will step up to this intercom; push the button; and tell the front office staff his or her name and the reason for the visit. The front office staff will be able to see the visitor through the video camera and grant entrance into the front door.

 

Once inside, visitors will be required to show a picture ID and sign-in. Please note that this will be the new procedure every time you visit a Comal ISD campus whether it is to drop off lunch or to pick-up your student for a doctor’s appointment.

 

As the school year begins, please be patient with each other and the staff as this new procedure becomes routine and a part of our district’s overall safety procedures.

Comal ISD is excited to partner with Anonymous Alerts - an anti-bullying and safety app that allows students, parents and community members to send safety alerts anonymously to district administrators.

 

Anonymous Alerts empowers students, parents and staff to speak up by confidentially reporting bullying, cyber-bullying and other sensitive topics. Students are still encouraged to reach out to a teacher, school administrator or counselor to report an incident. Anonymous Alerts is another tool for them to use.

 

How to make a report:

• Download the Anonymous Alerts app for free from the Apple Store, Google Play store, or the Chrome store. Open the app and enter activation code: comalisd.
• Go directly to https://tips.anonymousalerts.com/comalisd. This link is available on the Comal ISD website.

 

In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.

A critical piece of school safety is the uniform response to any incident at school. Weather events, fires, accidents, intruders and other threats to student safety are scenarios that are planned and trained for by school and district administration and staff.

 

Comal ISD uses the Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which provides common language around five protective actions campuses can take when an emergency arises. The SRP is based not on individual scenarios, but on the response to any given situation. The actions used are Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate and Shelter.

 

Parents will receive messages containing these actions during the school year. Students are taught these terms along with drills according to the action. Here is what these different actions mean.

 

• Hold – In your room or area. Clear the halls.
• Secure – Get inside. Lock outside doors.
• Lockdown – Locks, lights, out of sight
• Evacuate – To the announced location
• Shelter – Hazard and safety strategy

 

Learn more about the SRP at the "I Love U Guys" website.

• Volunteer Background Check - Every person who wishes to volunteer on a campus or in a classroom is required to complete a background check with Comal ISD. The 2023-2024 form will be available soon.
• Addition of School Resource Officers at every campus - Comal ISD is committed to having an armed law enforcement presence at each campus this school year.