The Austin Independent School District (AISD) in Texas is facing a funding shortfall as it prepares to comply with a new law requiring an armed officer or employee on every campus. The district estimates that it will need over 100 officers to meet this requirement, which is expected to cost approximately $9 million. However, the bill only provides around $2.5 million in funding from the state, leaving a significant gap in financing.
During a board meeting on August 10, AISD Trustee David Kaufmann expressed concerns about the funding shortfall, stating that the allotted amount of $40,000 for one of the largest schools in the district would not cover the cost of salaries, let alone other expenses. Kaufmann referred to the situation as an unfunded mandate.
This funding challenge is exacerbated by the difficulty in hiring additional officers. The AISD Police Chief Wayne Sneed stated that post-COVID, the department has been struggling, and they are not the only police department facing recruitment challenges. As the district faces the need to employ 109 officers when considering supervisors and support staff for the added personnel, finding qualified candidates has become a pressing issue.
To address the funding and personnel shortage, the law allows school boards to claim a good cause exemption and present an alternative plan if they are unable to comply with the requirement. This alternative plan may involve using school marshals, who are armed and trained school employees responsible for protecting students from intruders.
During the board meeting, Chief Governmental Relations and Board Services Officer Jacob Reach clarified that the law does not specify a deadline for all officers to be in place. This provides some flexibility for the district in implementing the new rule.
The AISD’s police department currently employs over 80 officers for its 116 schools and has a crisis intervention team to respond to mental health crises on campuses. Additionally, the department conducts a comprehensive 16-week training program and evaluates officers’ performance during this period. If officers are found to be unfit for the role, they may not continue working for the district.
AISD trustees, including Board Vice President Kevin Foster, expressed concerns about maintaining the level of training while striving to comply with HB 3, the law that mandates armed officers on every campus. Foster acknowledged that while the district aims to hire individuals with the right disposition, they will not compromise on training standards.
The funding and personnel challenges faced by AISD are not unique. Other school district leaders in Texas, such as Dallas ISD and Hays CISD, have also raised concerns about compliance due to similar problems with funding and staffing issues.
The original version of House Bill 3 proposed increasing the school safety allotment by $90 per student. However, after negotiations with the Senate, the final approved plan increased the per-pupil safety funding by 28 cents, resulting in districts receiving $10 per student. The plan also allocated $15,000 per campus to be used for officers or other safety enhancements. Despite these efforts, many districts, including AISD, feel that the state funding falls short of covering the necessary security upgrades and the hiring and training of new staff.
As the September 1 deadline for the implementation of HB 3 approaches, school districts across Texas are grappling with the financial and logistical challenges of complying with the new law. The disparity between the allocated funds and the actual costs of implementing the requirements poses a considerable burden. Districts will need to consider alternative strategies, such as employing school marshals, while working towards a solution that ensures the safety and well-being of students and staff.
