District Update Sept. 24
San Marcos CISD
SMHS Safety Message for Sept. 24
San Marcos CISD Families,
Please read the full message from Superintendent, Dr. Michael Cardona and SMHS Principal, Twila M. Guajardo, M.Ed.
Today, we experienced a false threat at San Marcos HS and we lean on our community to come together to prevent pranks and false threats from happening in San Marcos. It begins with us, it begins with you, and it begins with each and every student and faculty member.
SMCISD is working with the San Marcos Police Department to identify the individual that reported today’s false threat. Once the individual is identified, and if they are an SMCISD student, they will face consequences both at the district and criminal level.
Today, we are proud of the cooperation and patience displayed by all individuals involved. Please review a timeline of events and keep in mind that all the times reported in this message are approximate time stamps:
At 3:32 p.m., The San Marcos Police Department administrative line received a call stating that they allegedly saw someone in the building with a gun. San Marcos High School was immediately placed on a ‘Secure’ (lockdown) in accordance with Standard Response Protocol (SRP), https://www.smcisd.net/Page/4077. Response by the San Marcos Police Department and other emergency response partners was immediate. The San Marcos Police Department immediately entered the building and began the process of ensuring that any threat was neutralized, and all students and staff were safe. Officers began clearing the hallways and perimeter to ensure no threat was present. At no point was there an armed individual or any threat present at San Marcos High School or its surrounding grounds.
At 4:40 p.m. San Marcos Police Department confirmed that zero shots were fired on campus. All hallways were searched as SMPD went room-by-room to clear the campus. All students and staff were accounted for as the campus followed San Marcos High School safety protocols.
San Marcos CISD is committed to providing a safe learning environment through awareness, proactive student & staff training, and partnerships with local emergency responders & county agencies. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a positive and safe community for our students. Tomorrow, September 25, will function as a regular school day. Additional law enforcement and counseling services will be available.
This is a reminder that any communication regarding emergency situations will always be posted by the school district and the San Marcos Police Department, any other source is not considered legitimate. For the most up-to-date and accurate information, please visit our SMCISD website (smcisd.net) and follow SMCISD social media platforms (@SanMarcosCISD).
Thank you,
Dr. Michael Cardona
Superintendent of Schools
Twila M. Guajardo, M.Ed.
SMHS Principal
As a reminder, the ONLY credible sites for information regarding a district incident are provided directly by San Marcos CISD and/or the City of San Marcos Police Department.
The mission of SRP is to restore and protect the joy of youth through educational programs and positive actions in collaboration with families, schools, communities, organizations and government entities. By standardizing the vocabulary, all stakeholders can understand the response and status of the event.
Hold is followed by the Directive: "In Your Room or Area" and is the protocol used when hallways need to be kept clear of occupants.
Secure is followed by the Directive: "Get Inside. Lock Outside Doors" and is the protocol used to safeguard people within the building.
Lockdown is followed by "Locks, Lights, Out of Sight" and is the protocol used to secure individual rooms and keep occupants quiet and in place.
Evacuate may be followed by a location, and is used to move people from one location to a different location in or out of the building.
Shelter and state the Hazard and Safety Strategy for group and self protection.
Click the image above to be directed to the official SRP website.