COMAL COUNTY, Texas – After a tragic incident at a local high school, parents are understandably anxious about the safety of their children. This worry was amplified when a shooting occurred at Hill Country College Preparatory High School, leaving a teacher injured and a student deceased. Oscar Sanchez, a father of two daughters at the school, is one of those parents seeking answers.
On March 30, Sanchez dropped his daughters off at school, believing everything was normal. “There was nothing unusual,” he recounted. However, shortly after, he received alarming news that the campus was on lockdown due to a shooting incident.
The shooting was reportedly carried out by a student who brought a gun to school. Following the incident, both Comal Independent School District (ISD) and the Comal County Sheriff’s Office have withheld the identities of those involved due to the shooter being a juvenile.
Seeking Information
In the aftermath, Sanchez decided to keep his daughters home for several days out of fear for their safety. To gain insight into how often such dangerous situations occur in schools, he filed a public information request with Comal ISD in April. He sought records of incidents that triggered lockdowns and evacuations over the past five years.
Despite narrowing his request multiple times, the district’s attorneys estimated that fulfilling the request would cost about $130,000. Sanchez expressed frustration, stating, “I don’t have that money just lying down to provide that. It feels like a tactic to scare me off.”
High Costs and Concerns
The high estimate for the public records request raised eyebrows among advocates and experts. Shannon, a local advocate, commented, “We shouldn’t be getting hit with huge bills for information.” The unusual cost of Sanchez’s request has sparked dialogue about transparency and accountability in school safety.
Comal ISD maintains that the safety and security of students and staff are their top priorities. They have implemented a layered security approach including mental health support, threat assessment teams, and upgraded safety technologies. However, Sanchez still feels a lack of reassurance regarding his children’s safety.
Moving Forward
Sanchez has filed a complaint with the Texas Attorney General’s Office regarding the hefty cost estimate for the records. As of now, he continues to seek answers, longing for the reassurance that his children will be safe in their school environment. “I don’t know. That’s why, as a parent, it’s very frustrating not knowing if my kids are going to be safe,” he stated.
