Safety Program/Risk Management: Emergency Plans

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• Emergency Operations Plan Requirement: State law (TEC §37.108(a)) requires Texas school districts to have a Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan. This policy update adjusts the language describing that plan to align more closely with the legal requirement.
• Violent Activity Notification Requirement: A 2023 state law (TEC §37.1131, passed as H.B. 3) requires school districts to notify parents and guardians when violent activity occurs on a campus, at a district facility, or at a district-sponsored event. This policy adds a new section directing the Superintendent to create procedures that meet that requirement.
• Electronic Notification Methods: TEC §37.1131 specifically requires that notifications be sent by text message and email. This policy also allows other electronic communication methods, which goes slightly beyond what the statute spells out.
• Superintendent Procedure Authority: Rather than setting notification details in board policy, this update gives the Superintendent the authority to adopt the specific procedures. The underlying notification requirement comes from state law, but choosing to delegate that responsibility to the Superintendent is a local decision by the board.
• Law Enforcement Notification: This policy includes a provision allowing the district to notify law enforcement and emergency responders when appropriate. No specific state statute identified in the legal review requires this step, making it a locally chosen addition by the board.
• Privacy and Real-Time Notification: The policy references student privacy protections and the option for real-time notifications during violent incidents. These elements appear to be based on guidance from the Texas Education Agency rather than direct quotes from a state statute, and the district has noted that independent verification is recommended.

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• Emergency Plan Language Update: The policy changes a phrase in the Multihazard Emergency Operations Plan from 'for use in the District facilities' to 'in accordance with state law.' This rewording reflects the underlying requirement in Texas Education Code §37.108, though the new phrasing does not copy the statute's exact words.
• Reunification Removed from Plan: The word 'reunification' was removed from the list of required components in the emergency operations plan. Texas Education Code §37.108 still requires districts to address reunification in their plans, so the legal obligation remains in place regardless of this policy change.
• Violent Activity Notification — New Section: A new section was added requiring the Superintendent to put in place procedures for notifying parents and guardians when violent activity occurs at school. This change is required by Texas Education Code §37.1131(b), enacted through H.B. 3 during the 2023 legislative session.
• Electronic Notification Requirement: The policy requires the district to notify parents through text message and e-mail when violent activity occurs. Texas Education Code §37.1131(a) mandates these two methods, and the policy also allows other electronic communication options beyond what the statute specifically names.
• Real-Time and Privacy Protections: The policy includes an option for real-time notifications and requires that student privacy be protected during the notification process. Both of these elements are directly required by Texas Education Code §37.1131(a) as part of the 2023 H.B. 3 legislation.
• District Procedures Clarification: The word 'District' was added to a separate section about responding to threats to health or safety. This change is a local editorial decision and is not required or specifically authorized by any state statute.

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• Emergency Plan Requirements: State law TEC §37.108(a) requires school districts to adopt and carry out a multihazard emergency operations plan covering prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. This policy update adds language reflecting those requirements.
• Reunification Added to Plan: A 2025 state law, H.B. 33, added 'reunification' as a sixth required phase in a district's emergency operations plan under TEC §37.108(a). This policy change incorporates that new requirement, which takes effect September 1, 2025.
• Specific Procedures Removed from Policy Text: The policy previously listed four specific emergency procedures — polling place security, active shooter response, train derailment, and substitute teacher access. Those procedures are still required by state law under various sections of TEC §37.108, but the district chose to remove the restatements from this policy document rather than repeat what the law already says.
• Broader Notification Heading: The section previously titled 'Violent Activity' has been renamed 'Threat to Health or Safety,' which aligns with the language used in TEC §37.108(f)(5). A separate state law, TEC §37.1131, also requires districts to have a specific policy on notifying parents about violent activity at a campus or school event.
• Parent Notification Procedures: Under TEC §37.108(f)(5), a district's emergency plan must include steps for immediately notifying parents when there is a significant threat to student health or safety, and must identify who is responsible for carrying out that notification. This policy update adds language directing the superintendent to develop those procedures.
• Violent Activity Notification Language: The prior policy included a specific paragraph directing the superintendent to develop procedures for notifying parents about violent activity, tied to TEC §37.1131. That paragraph has been removed from this version of the policy, and TEC §37.1131 remains a separate, active state law requirement.

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