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HCISD Achieves Commendable Results In Safety Audit

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The Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District achieved high marks during their Safety and Security Audit this year.

Senate Bill 11 mandates that all Texas School Districts conduct a complete Safety and Security Audit every three years. Fidela Hinojosa from Region One Education Service Center and the district’s safety and security personnel conducted the 2011-2014 audit.

“The district is committed to the continuous improvement of our safety programs to ensure safe and secure environments for all our students,” said Oscar Tapia, Assistant Superintendent for District Operations/School Safety. “Thanks to the hard work of our maintenance, custodial staff, and school administration we have made great strides in improving our building securities, evacuation drills and safety plans. We will continue to work hard every year to get even better.”

To prepare for the audit many security enhancements were put in place such as securing the campus front entries with card readers, video cameras, and speakers to communicate with the visitors before entering a campus. District staff also replaced outdated cameras with digital cameras for better face recognition.

Campus Security Guards were given uniforms for easy recognition, and fencing was installed with panic devices to lock out unwanted visitors, while allowing an effortless exit should an emergency occur.

The audit covered emergency response operations, building safety compliance, and security.

“Our consultant reviewed emergency operations plans and emergency response flip charts processes and procedures and found them to be very complete and thorough,” said Alfonso Castillo, Assistant Maintenance Director. “Mrs. Hinojosa gave our district very high ratings in our emergency planning and our emergency drills.”

Region One representative Fidela Hinojosa considers Harlingen CISD one of the Valley’s Showcase Districts and feels confident that the students in Harlingen are in a safe and secure school environments.

“At HCISD the safety of our students and staff has always been and will continue to be our top priority,” said Superintendent Dr. Art Cavazos. “We are proud of our staff for this recognition and will continue to perfect our practice in school safety and security.”

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