School Safety

More than 70 schools are getting new perimeter fences with money from the bond. The district says it wants to make sure campuses remain welcoming places while strengthening security.

House Bill 3 requires districts to have at least one armed officer on every campus during regular school hours. Austin ISD has more than 100 campuses, so it will push the district into an even deeper budget deficit.

The school board approved a plan that will place at least two peace officers at the district’s high school and at least one officer at middle and elementary schools. The Eanes ISD superintendent said the district would rather have trained police on campuses than armed teachers or other school staff.

What would you do with $33 billion?

Public education advocates hope lawmakers will spend more on schools, raise teacher salaries and prioritize mental health resources. The last time the Texas Legislature made a major financial investment in the public school system was before the pandemic in 2019.

Inspectors are seeing if they can easily gain access to school buildings and evaluating check-in procedures for visitors. If issues are identified, school districts have 45 days to address them.

In a message posted on his wife’s Facebook page Sunday night, Hal Harrell said his retirement was "completely" his choice and that he would remain superintendent "throughout the year until a new superintendent can be named."

A student under the age of 18 is facing two felony charges for allegedly making threats against Akins Early College High School in South Austin.

The return to school is a chance for students to see friends and get back into routines, but it also brings back the fear and trauma for those touched by the tragedy.

Teachers are returning to classrooms next week, less than three months after a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. KUT asked three teachers in Central Texas to share how they're feeling about school safety.