by Tony Ashcraft

In Texas-

The  Groesbeck, Texas (Independent School District ), the Independent School District has had a school guardian program in place for nearly a year. The Groesbeck ISD issued a press release on July 17, 2023, showing they had placed signs announcing the program.

The Guardian program is a popular Texas program that enables local schools to have various staff members trained and armed, so that they can respond to deadly threats that may occur on campus before police can arrive Response times can be longer in rural areas when compared to larger metropolitan areas.

In addition to having trained individuals embedded on campus, the Guardian program is Ta fraction of the cost when compared to the typical expense of a school resource officer (SRO) which runs on average about $100,000 per year. A trained Guardian costs about $1,000 a year. The savings are largely due to the fact that the Guardian is already employed by the district, so the only additional cost is training. A SRO, retired or current police officer would require a separate salary as well as additional training that may be required specific to threats that are common to school campuses. A school district can afford 100 Guardians for the cost of one SRO. Groesbeck School Superintendent, Anthony Figueroa, and G.I.S.D. released the following press statement:

Two months ago, I sent my monthly superintendent newsletter informing parents of our Guardian Program and new signage (see picture below). Being installed this week, signs will be posted on our campuses which state, “ATTENTION: GISD STAFF ARE ARMED AND TRAINED TO PROTECT OUR STUDENTS.”12”X12” signs will be attached to all building entrances, and larger 3’X3’ signs will be displayed at all parking/drive way entrances. 

Last year the Groesbeck ISD school board watched the devastation of schools across the country, being forced to prepare for the unthinkable –the potential of a school shooting, and considered appropriate policies. The Board updated local policy, authorizing a School Safety “Guardian” Program (TX Govt. Code 411.1901). Its purpose is to provide students and faculties an armed self-defense option prior to the arrival of Law Enforcement in the event of an active shooter or “active killer” on campus. 

The Guardians are ISD staff members who have passed strict requirements and training. In order to protect them from becoming targets of an intruder, their names are confidential and are not to be released. I ask that names not be guessed at nor rumors passed in an attempt to protect these individuals. 

Although the program has been in place for almost a year, the Board of Trustees approved for the district to make the program more visible. By providing the community this information and by placing signs up across the campuses, we are taking additional steps so that people know we are NOT an “easy target”.

Quoting an article from Groesbeckjournal.com Superintendent Figueroa noted the last three school districts in which he was involved were all participants in the Guardian program.

“I am proud to have been part of a Guardian program in my last three districts and I am proud that GISD had this program when I arrived,” said Figueroa. “My responsibility is to ensure we properly train our Guardians and that we properly communicate this program to our community.”

As of October 2022, about 43% of the 1022 school districts in Texas were involved in the Guardian program. As of this writing, none of the participating school districts has been the subject of a mass killing in school. We expect this trend to continue and are hopeful that all Texas school districts will embrace the Guardian program.

The placement of signs prominently on the doors and entrances to the campuses is a proactive step to stop potential mass shooters from targeting these schools.. These cowards seek fame by inflicting terror upon the most vulnerable segment of society, children. The specter of armed personnel defending a school would be sufficient to deter potential threats. The majority of killing in these events occurs in the first few minutes. Each second that ticks away awaiting first responders to arrive is a potential life lost.  Armed and trained personnel who are on campus are the best defense against any potential armed threat. The “gun-free zone” is not going to stop an armed assailant with bad intentions. Trained personnel who are armed and ready, will.