SAN ANTONIO – As students return to class, Northside Independent School District (NISD) is implementing several new safety measures aimed at enhancing campus security. A significant addition is a new exterior door monitoring system designed to ensure that school grounds remain secure and safe for both students and staff.
The district has equipped every exterior door with a door monitoring alarm. This system is designed to alert school personnel if a door is left propped open or does not fully close within 45 seconds. When triggered, the alarm emits a loud sound and activates a flashing strobe light, prompting a swift investigation by school staff.
According to Northside ISD Police Chief Richard Palomo, this new system serves as an additional layer of protection for students and staff. He emphasized the importance of closed doors in maintaining safety, stating, “Research has shown that closed doors save lives, right? So it’s really a best practice.”
The system is designed to ensure immediate notification to campus personnel if a door is left open. “If you leave a door propped or ajar, it’s going to set off an alarm with a strobe light,” Palomo explained, underscoring the initiative’s focus on safety.
To prepare students and staff for this new system, NISD officials have shared a training video detailing what to expect during an alarm activation. The implementation of the door-monitoring system represents a significant investment, costing approximately $7 million, funded through state grants. This step is part of Northside ISD’s ongoing efforts to bolster campus security in the wake of new safety standards established after the tragic Uvalde school shooting in 2022.
The door alarms are only one facet of a broader set of safety initiatives being adopted for the new school year. Recently, Northside ISD has welcomed nine additional school police officers to its ranks, with ongoing plans to assign an officer to every campus.
In addition, every classroom has now been outfitted with Silent Panic Alert Technology (SPAT), which allows for immediate communication during emergencies. Furthermore, the district has appointed an emergency manager to oversee campus security, emergency preparedness, and staff training, ensuring a comprehensive approach to safety.
While Chief Palomo acknowledges the critical role of technology in enhancing school safety, he also emphasizes the irreplaceable value of building relationships between officers and students. “You can have all the technology in the world, but you can never replace that human factor,” he remarked. He advocates for relational policing, which fosters trust and communication within the school community.
To further strengthen safety protocols, district officers have undergone expanded training in youth mental health, crisis intervention, and de-escalation techniques. Such efforts underscore Northside ISD’s commitment to not only ensuring physical safety but also addressing the holistic needs of students and staff.
