As students head back to school, San Antonio parents have expressed their concerns for their children. 

When Erika Galvez heard her 11-year-old daughter demonstrate her school's evacuation plans at dinner, she couldn't help but feel saddened that she's growing up in a world where that's practiced. However, Galvez said she knows it's needed and something that eases her mind a little as she sends her daughter back to school.

Galvez said her daughter has been learning and preparing for an emergency for a while. Now entering the sixth grade with Northside Independent School District, she hopes her new middle school student stays safe and adapts well to new evacuation plans. 

"It breaks my heart a little that these plans are needed," Galvez said. "But it helps keep them safe and parents less worried about their children as they go back to school. We just all need to rely on our neighbors and keep an eye out for each other."

As students head back to school, many parents have shared the same concerns and worries as Galvez. Yvette Olveda is sending her two children back to Southwest Independent School District. She expressed her concerns for security heightened even more after the Uvalde mass shooting that killed 19 students and two teachers.

Southwest ISD has layered security at all sites including fencing, gates, locks, signage, and electronic access control systems, according to its website. Campuses are also secured with vestibules that allow for controlled access into all of our schools, with access only through the front office personnel. All doors are to remain secured and checked regularly throughout the school day as well.

Olveda said she appreciates the district having controlled access, as she has noticed it as well when she tries to pick up her children. The action helps a little as there are other things outside of her control she concerns herself about, such as the lingering COVID-19 virus.

"All we can do is just protect them by having them wear their mask," Olveda said. "They don't like it but I know it's something that I'm doing for their own good."

While nervous about safety as well, Galvez said she believes in the safety and security measures at NISD. According to the district, it has over 100 fully commissioned police officers. The district maintains two officers at every high school, one at every middle school, and assigned to officers in geographic clusters, allowing for a response within minutes at any of its elementary schools.

In addition, the district has a designated safety officer whose responsibilities include assisting and consulting individual campuses in all safety matters. The safety officer also oversees regular safety audits and participates in campus safety plans and drills. All Northside elementary schools are also equipped with bullet-resistant security lobbies and access control technology. 

San Antonio ISD gave details of its Safe and Supportive School Program during a town hall on August 10. In the hall, officials talked about the upgraded security and dispatch system and its procedures that are continually practiced. 

Each campus will practice at least one lockdown drill each school year that is appropriate to students' ages. The district also has officers assigned to all secondary schools with two at every high school and one at every middle school. Campuses with younger children are covered by the district's division and nearby campus officers. It also has a controlled access entrance

Other safety measures include limited entry and exit into buildings, controlled key inventory, safety training for substitutes and bus drivers, threat assessments, and emergency training and equipment. 

North East ISD also operates on a buzz-in system with doors that can only be accessed with keycards, according to its website. The schools also have security cameras and fencing. The district has over 70 officers. Each high school and middle school campus has an assigned officer while other officers patrol the elementary schools.

The North East Tip Line (neisd.net/tipline) also gives others a safe and confidential way to report a wide variety of safety concerns. You can also call the North East Police Department non-emergency line at 210-407-0925.