UVALDE – More than 30 Department of Public Safety officers will patrol the campuses of Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District as students and teachers head back to class in the wake of the school shooting.
In a news release on Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott said the presence of DPS officers was requested by UCISD Superintendent Dr. Hal Harrell.
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A total of 33 DPS officers will be assigned to the district’s eight campuses throughout the school year, which starts Sept. 6.
The patrol, Abbott’s office said, will help parents, students and staff feel safer after the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School, where a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers.
“The beginning of a new school year should be an exciting time for students and teachers, and the State of Texas is working to provide that for the Uvalde community,” Abbott said in the release. “As a new school year begins, we must ensure students, parents, and all dedicated school personnel can look forward to new opportunities to learn and grow. Texas will keep working to provide all available support and resources to the Uvalde community as they continue to heal.”
The UCISD board discussed the safety measures during Monday’s meeting and broke down the officers by campus:
- 6 officers at Uvalde High School
- 6 officers at Morales Junior High
- 4 officers at Dalton Elementary
- 4 officers at Uvalde Elementary(the Benson Complex)
- 4 officers at UDKA
- 4 officers at Flores Elementary
- 4 officers at Batesvill Elementary
- 1 officer at Crossroads Academy (9th-12)
Students who attended Robb Elementary school will not return to that campus. Students in third and fourth grades will go to Uvalde Elementary (the Benson Complex) and students in fifth and sixth grades will go to Flores Elementary.
Students also have the option of virtual learning this year.
DPS Director Steven McCraw said that the agency will work with the district “to ensure each child, parent, and teacher feels safe and protected during this difficult time.”
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