Mercedes Independent School District Interim Superintendent Richard Rivera briefed trustees on security initiatives he hopes to enact at the district at the board’s meeting Tuesday.
Security at Mercedes ISD — or lack thereof — was a consistent source of scandal and concern at the district last semester.
At least four individuals working at the district were arrested last semester for charges that included improper relationship between a teacher and a student, injuring a child with a disability, making a terroristic threat and interfering with public duties.
In one of those incidents a security officer was allegedly making his own school shooting threats. In another then-superintendent Carolyn Mendiola was accused of interfering with a criminal sexual misconduct investigation, a charge she says is bogus and politically motivated.
Mercedes police also characterized the district’s public response to security threats as out of step with their understanding of the situation on the ground, and the district was criticized for referring to a legitimate threat that prompted a bomb squad response and evacuation as a “drill.”
Rivera did not single out any of those incidents while detailing his security plans Tuesday. His presentation on safety was included in a budget presentation focused on cost-savings and making the district attractive to prospective students.
Rivera did, however, call safety a paramount aim.
“This is non-negotiable, it’s urgent,” he said. “That all our kids are safe at all times, they’re safe from outside forces, from inside forces. That our teachers treat the kids like their own and not in any way try to be rude to our students, talking down to them.”
Rivera told the board he intends to be a visible superintendent and to make frequent visits to campuses, aiming to ensure drugs and alcohol are restricted, effective discipline is maintained and that security guards are deployed effectively.
“This is very important,” he said of security guards. “We need a role as to what they do, how they do it, when they do it. And that’s a goal that we have.”
The district, Rivera said, will also look at metal detectors, whether classroom doors lock, traffic controls, drills and enhanced video surveillance and fencing.
“Especially at the high school. There’s no fence there and it’s very easy for an outsider to come in,” he said.
Rivera also told the board he would ask them to increase the number of school resource officers from two to four.
“And again, we’ll work that into our budget,” he said. “And again to me that’s very important, and I know it’s important to you — the board — too, and to our staff.”
