SAFE Longhorn Update

As you know, the vast majority of scholars in our district come to school with the goal of learning and furthering their education. We can no longer afford to let the few scholars intent on causing discipline issues to disrupt our scholars who come here to learn.

Now is the time for action. We have addressed the fights and unsafe behaviors that have occurred at our middle and high schools recently, and are taking additional measures to work toward eliminating those situations at all campuses. This will require a community effort – from parents, scholars, administration and staff.

Safety & Security Actions Moving Forward

• Following an investigation, students caught fighting will be suspended for up to 45 days.
• Students caught recording fights will be disciplined, which could include ISS or out-of-school suspension.
• CHISD police will drastically increase random searches using contracted detection dogs and wanding to identify prohibited items on school grounds.
• Teachers will initiate a student's formal removal from class when student behavior is so unruly, disruptive, or abusive that the teacher cannot teach, and the students in the classroom cannot learn. When removed from the class, the students will be assigned to ISS, out-of school suspension or placed in alternative school.

I have instructed the CHISD Police Staff to:

• Increase the security presence on campuses where issues have happened recently.

• Partner with the City of Cedar Hill police to have officers at locations where scholars congregate, otherwise unsupervised, after school hours.

• Increase police coverage after-school at CHISD middle schools and high schools.

• Move quickly to fill the 3 officer vacancies currently within the CHISD police department.

• Work with the City of Cedar Hill and the CHISD Family and Community Engagement (FACE) office to schedule and host a community-wide Safety Summit.

I have asked all middle and high school principals to:

• Review and make adjustments to their campus safety plans, drop-off and dismissal procedures.
• Use ALL teachers and staff in the building to provide close monitoring of students in hallways, cafeterias and other meeting spaces.
  
• Hold grade-level meetings with all students and review behavior expectations and consequences.
  
• Review and make adjustments to bathroom access if scholars are using bathrooms to fight or misbehave. We will never deny a child access to a bathroom, but if there is fighting in those spaces we will decrease the number of restrooms available in order to maintain campus safety and improve monitoring.
• Require hall passes for all students – no exceptions.
  
• Enforce the dress code - no exceptions.

All CHISD middle and high school scholars, families and staff can expect to see a difference moving forward. All CHISD principals will communicate any additional significant safety changes and expectations for students and staff. Restoring order and creating a positive culture is required of all of us at this moment.

Here is what we need from our parents & guardians:

• Closely monitor and review your child's social media. We have found most of the misbehavior starts online and then unfortunately plays out in our schools. Click here to view last week's CHISD Digital Parent University about social media dangers and parental monitoring tips.
• Every morning, check your student’s backpack for foods, dangerous items, etc. before they leave for school.
• Ensure all types of weapons maintained in the home (any knives, airsoft guns, toy guns, real guns, etc.) are secured/locked in a safe place at home and not accessible to your student(s).
• Be present and engaged with your child's school. It is unfortunate to see campuses hold parent engagement activities and only a handful of parents attend; but then see Nextdoor or Facebook posts with more than 200 comments. Parents, please be our partner in the solution.
• Use the CHISD Anonymous Alerts service to anonymously submit any suspicious activity, bullying or other student related issues to a school administrator(s).

I want to be clear - any student behavior leading to a threat in safety and/or school disruption will result in the most severe discipline and intervention available. Schools are the heart of our community and safer schools lead to stronger communities and successful adults. That’s what we all want, and therefore we must all work together to achieve it.

Tomorrow is a new day; thank you for showing up for our scholars!

Dr. Gerald B. Hudson, Superintendent

Each CHISD campus has a chapter with its own unique identity that reflects the interests and needs of their school. However, CHISD All Pro Dads is unique in that we also network together as a single group across the entire district. One group, 13 chapters, all working together!

All Pro Dads Email: chisdapd@gmail.com

For more information please visit www.cedarhilldads.org

Membership is made up of parents, students, staff, and community members who volunteer countless hours a year. We all work together effortlessly for one common cause - to provide ALL scholars with an excellent public education.

CHISD PTA website: https://www.chisd.net/Page/9803

For more information please visit facebook.com/CHISDPTA