Since June, 150 new school marshals have been certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The exercise in August, at a Pflugerville school, was one of seven classes the commission held. Tuesday, during his inaugural address, Governor Greg Abbott didn't specifically call for more armed school employees. He did make it clear though that security is a top legislative priority. view article

An increasing number of Texans are choosing not to get themselves or their kids vaccinated, including several clusters of people in Greater Houston and the consequences could be deadly. That’s according to The Immunization Partnership’s latest bi-annual report. “It’s alarming when I see so many parents choose not to protect their children because it puts their own family at risk,” said Allison Winnike, President and CEO of The Immunization Partnership. view article

Westphalia ISD is set to close on Thursday and Friday due to a large percentage of students that have the flu or strep throat. According to the district, the student holiday on Monday will allow five days for the illness to hopefully decrease significantly. There will be extensive cleaning of all facilities and buses that will be done during the break. view article

A worker fell 25 feet after a scaffolding collapsed at a new Katy ISD high school construction site. The man suffered a broken leg and was flown to a hospital for treatment, according to the Fort Bend County Sheriff's Office. Major Chad Norvell said this happened Thursday afternoon at Fulshear Bend and Cross Creek Bend Lane. view article

We've all seen the training videos of how we're supposed to react when there's a threat at work. But how do you teach those same concepts to children from pre-k to second grade? Tuesday, first responders and school leaders from across Hays County gathered in Hays CISD to screen a new educational video series produced by Hays County Emergency Management and Texas State University. It's a tool they can use to teach young school children about grown-up survival skills. view article

Texas is projected to have more money to work with during the current legislative session. Many mental health advocates are hoping a chunk of that funding will go towards advancing mental health access and resources. In the 2017 session, strides were made, but advocates say there is a long way to go. "People often have a hard time getting any care whatsoever, let alone the level of care needed to facilitate recovery," said NAMI Public Policy Director, Gregory Hansch. view article

The number of Texas school districts with policies allowing teachers and other staff to carry guns has increased almost 50 percent since a gunman killed 10 people at Santa Fe High School in May.  According to a December survey by the Texas Association of School Boards, 315 school districts — more than 30 percent of all districts in the state — have adopted a policy giving educators the option of being armed. That’s up from 217 in May and 172 in February, when 17 people were shot and killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. view article

The state representative for Rusk County is looking for a Senate sponsor on a bill to equip teachers and school nurses to recognize and give first aid to students experiencing epileptic seizure. State Rep. Travis Clardy, R-Nacogdoches, named his measure “Sam’s Law” in memory of Kilgore High School senior Samantha Watkins, who died of an epileptic seizure at home in December 2016. view article

Spring Hill ISD trustees joined a state cooperative Monday night to boost the district’s purchasing power, Interim Superintendent Rod Townsend reported Tuesday. The TexBuy Purchasing Cooperative is run by Education Service Center 16, one of 20 government support centers that contract with local school districts for curriculum services, training, purchasing and other shared elements of public education. view article

The U.S. shale revolution, propelled by unprecedented production in Texas, has elevated the United States as the world’s top oil and natural gas producer. While much attention is paid to the indisputable benefits of job growth, domestic energy security and global stability, another life-changing achievement receives far less coverage: American natural gas is making the air cleaner at home and around the world. view article

The Katy ISD School Board is working to improve vehicle flow seveal schools. Those schools include Bear Creek Elementary, Mayde Creek Elementary, Rhoads Elementary, Franz Elementary, and the Morton Ranch school complex. Vehicles lines during student drop-off and pick-up times extend in to city streets and roads creating congestion and a possible safety hazard. An idea being considered is vehicle stacking. Vehicle stacking lanes and driving lanes provide for vehicles waiting for drive-through service that is physically separated from other traffic and pedestrian circulation. This plan is similar to what various restaurants with drive-through lanes use to draw more stopped vehicles from clogging streets. view article

A local district is considering providing additional mental health services to its students. United ISD says students these days are under a lot of pressure, and that can cause them to develop several disorders, a reason the district is trying to be proactive. With recent incidents involving violent acts happening in schools around the nation, Christina Uribe an employee with the district says these acts could be attributed to mental health issues. view article

A former Kennedale ISD custodian was arrested Tuesday following a report of a former district employee inappropriately behaving in front of a minor student. Since an allegation of inappropriate behavior was made December 20, Kennedale ISD, Kennedale Police and state agencies have been investigating Lewis Wayne Rawlings, a 70-year-old white man who at the time was a custodian with the school district, according to Kennedale ISD. view article

Two Longview high school athletic trainers were honored in Austin on Monday for their role in helping save a cross-county coach’s life. As Ken Jernigan wrapped up a practice Oct. 22, he headed up a hill near the school where his runners were. As he walked, he noticed it was getting dark, and before he knew it, he had passed out. Students raced into the training room and got trainers Deirdre Scotter and Kristin Croley, who used an defibrillator and CPR to resuscitate Jernigan until paramedics arrived. view article

Pine Tree ISD has responded to the national opioid crisis by obtaining two nasal spray boxes to provide immediate relief in case of a student overdose on opioids — something that has not occurred yet. Pine Tree officials believe the district is the first in the area to receive the Narcan packs, which each contain two doses that the district’s seven nurses and two athletic trainers are authorized to administer. view article

The Carroll ISD board of trustees approved $232,754 to purchase security glass and other safety components Jan. 14. The glass will be installed at Carroll High School and Carroll Senior High School. This purchase comes as part of ongoing safety improvements throughout the district, Assistant Superintendent for Administrative Services Matt Miller said. view article

Midland ISD has confirmed a Bunche Elementary student has been arrested for allegedly assaulting another Bunche student off campus. Midland Police charged the minor with aggravated sexual assault. Police say the alleged assault did not happen on campus. MISD released a statement:  view article

Hundreds of community members, students and Marshall ISD staff braved near freezing temperatures on Monday to huddle together in mourning at Maverick Stadium for a candlelight vigil honoring four fellow students involved in a weekend car crash. Marshall High School Principal Tina Brown said Monday it was a “very sad” day as students returned to school following a Saturday car crash that killed fellow classmates Ny’Jahl Armstrong and Derrick Bennett and seriously-injured classmates LaTavion Jackson and Jerrold Maze — both of whom remained hospitalized on Monday. view article

After being made aware that a registered sex offender officiated on two separate dates in Glen Rose in late 2017, administrators at Glen Rose ISD are taking precautions that it doesn’t happen again. “Glen Rose ISD will now require any sub-chapter officiating Glen Rose ISD sub-varsity games to submit the names of any person officiating and go through the same criminal background check as any other district employee or volunteer,” said Superintendent Wayne Rotan in an email sent out to families in the district last Friday afternoon. According to WFAA in Dallas, James Williams, 52, who has served time in prison for attempted kidnapping, was allowed to officiate sub-varsity games in Glen Rose and Granbury as a member of the Granbury Chapter of Basketball Officials. view article

Police said Friday there has been a shooting inside an Oregon middle school and all students and teachers are safe. Eugene Police Department Lt. Jennifer Bills said all students were locked in their classrooms and no one was being allowed into the building. view article

 A student was arrested after police found weapons in his car Friday morning. Seguin ISD confirmed that a student reported to them that a Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center student had a rifle in his vehicle that was parked in the school parking lot. view article

Two Marshall ISD students were killed and two others critically injured in an early Saturday wreck, Marshall ISD Superintendent Jerry Gibson said. “We are sad for the loss of two of our high school students,“ Gibson said. “Our prayers go out to the families of Ny’Jahl Armstrong and Derrick Bennett and for LaTavion Jackson, who is in critical condition.” view article

Magnolia ISD will host the next TEAM UP (Together Educating All Magnolia ISD) Parent Engagement night in partnership with Yes to Youth-Montgomery County Youth Services (MCYS) on the Dangers of Social Media on Thursday, January 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the Magnolia Event Center located at 11659 FM 1488 in Magnolia. Social media sites and apps such as Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook, Ask.fm are being used by over 75% of teens ages 13-17. Through this workshop, parents will learn which social media sites and apps children are using and how you can protect them. Basic internet safety tips include how to minimize the risks of cyber bullying, exposure to inappropriate material, sexting and online predators.   view article

School trustees here will consider several safety and security measures when they meet Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the administration office, 701 N. Railroad St. The board will also take steps for an upcoming election for three seats. view article

Police shot and killed a man who showed up Friday with a gun at an Oregon middle school amid a custody dispute, authorities said. No one else was injured.The man had been escorted from Cascade Middle School in Eugene when he began struggling and pulled a gun, police Lt. Jennifer Bills told reporters. She initially said the shooting was inside the school. Students were locked in classrooms, and the school was locked down for nearly four hours. view article

A Seguin ISD student was arrested Friday morning after law enforcement officers were called about a possible gun in a vehicle. Douglass Cowey, 18, told other students about a gun in his vehicle in the parking lot of the Mercer-Blumberg Learning Center campus, police reported in a written statement. view article

A Pasadena Independent School District student at Dr. Kirk Lewis Career and Technology High School is accused of bringing a firearm onto campus Friday morning, the district said. view article

Spring ISD is continuing to flesh out its middle school retention plan to keep more students between sixth to eighth grades by focusing on safety, mental health and more parental involvement on their campuses. The district began working to improve retention rates at its middle schools after data indicated that about 5 percent, or between 77 to 140 of students are opting out of Spring ISD middle schools per year. District officials conducted a listening tour in September and October of last year, during which they collected input from parents. view article

As Texas lawmakers get started on tackling the important issues facing this state, we shouldn’t overlook the fact that representatives took a major step toward getting their own house in order this week. We applaud a unanimous 142-0 vote in the House to strengthen how members handle sexual harassment complaints by having a legislative committee with subpoena powers look into allegations of inappropriate behavior. view article

Homeowners in one Garland neighborhood say they are at their wits end about what they say happens on a daily basis around Routh Roach Elementary School. It’s all about how parents go about picking up their children. “We have to plan everything around the 3 o’clock hour,” Elizabeth Sarles said. “You cannot get out of the neighborhood.” view article

Training more counselors, teachers and administrators to recognize trauma could help Ector County Independent School District increase its scores, improve academic achievement, graduation rates and reduce dropouts, among other benefits. Executive Director of Guidance and Counseling Nancy Vanley talked to the Student Health Advisory Council Thursday about trauma informed schools. Trauma can be anything that happened, or was perceived to have happened. Vanley said most students with behavior problems have experienced trauma, as have those who are quiet or suicidal. Rather than labeling the students, Vanley said trauma informed schools take the time to understanding the underlying causes of their behavior. view article

A picture of a noose was found hanging inside a DFW high school on Thursday. According to NBCDFW, the Weatherford Independent School District said the incident happened in December. The noose was found outside of the school’s auditorium. A Facebook post showing the noose said, “What happens when someone actually gets hurt over things like this on either side? Will that be just kids being kids?” view article

Oftentimes a teacher’s first sign of trauma is when a child acts out. A pilot program launched this week by the San Antonio Police Department will help schools be more proactive by giving them advanced notice that a student might have been exposed to violence or other potentially traumatizing events involving the police. view article

Three local school districts will partner with the San Antonio Police Department in a new program designed to help keep students in school and learning even after they experience traumatic incidents. The trial program announced Wednesday aims to connect the San Antonio Police Department and school administrators and teachers at East Central, San Antonio, and North East Independent School Districts, alerting them to students who have been involved in traumatic incidents such as assaults, drug raids, or homicides. view article

Where you send your kids to school is probably one of the most important decisions you'll ever face. Niche.com, a public data analysis site released a list of the safest districts in the greater Houston area. It used U.S. Department of Education data from 2014 to 2016 along with parent and student surveys to make their rankings.  view article