Devine ISD has been awarded a $1.1 million safety grant from the state of Texas.
“We are excited to receive this grant. It will allow the district to implement and enhance some safety measures at our campuses,” Dr. Todd Grandjean, DISD Superintendent, said.
The grant parameters allow the district to purchase and/or upgrade existing fencing to become compliant with safety standards. Those standards stipulate that fencing be 8' tall. Other allowable uses include emergency egress gates, door enforcement components, mechanical door auto closer, mechanical door locks, and master key rekeying for the mechanical doors.
Exterior windows are included in the allowable upgrades as is alert technology.
Alert technology includes the purchase and installation of silent panic alert protocols, maintenance and service contracts for the alert system, and comprehensive school safety software.
Some of the allowable uses of the grant funds, DISD has already completed.
“We have already installed intruder-resistant film on windows and glass doors, and knox boxes at all campuses for all first responders,” Grandjean said.
He added that DISD will focus on upgrading fencing, even considering different types of fencing that are non-scalable. DISD will also look at entries, and certainly silent alert technology.
“The alert technology requires that the system be hardwired, and not use Wi-Fi, so we are considering our options concerning that,” he said.
Other components that DISD will use the grant funds for include cameras at the doors so that entry can be granted from the campus office and access badge entry.