LEANDER, Texas — Schools in Texas have been scrambling to comply with House Bill 3 (HB 3), a new law that requires school districts across the state to have armed security on every campus.
But the problem most districts are running into is a lack of funding.
HB 3 gave districts $15,000 per campus and $10 per student to power up security.
Leander ISD is one of Central Texas's fastest growing districts and is one of many to run into issues trying to create a police force of its own.
The school board met Thursday to discuss a resolution and a budget request of $1.1 million.
Bryan Miller, Leander ISD's executive director of Student Support Services, explained that to create what they believe is needed, the district would need to come up with $7.6 million that currently isn't available.
The idea with the $1.1 million is to dish it out in phases, which would essentially allow the district to hire a police chief, an assistant police chief, an administrative assistant and 10 marshals.
The costs would go toward salaries, insurance, training and equipment.
Ideally, Leander ISD would want two armed security presences at its high schools and each at the district’s nine middle schools. Miller added that the district would incorporate the marshals for the 30 elementary schools in the district.
There would be an 80-hour completion course for the marshals in training. For those recruited to the police department, the district would require roughly 1,400 hours.
The total combined, according to Miller, would be 67 hours.
“The police officers would fall under in our department – our police department, under a police chief – and then the marshals as well, they would be Leander ISD employees,” Miller said.
According to Miller, there are currently a total of seven School Resource Officers (SROs).
However, some board members raised concerns about creating a police department in a school environment.
"I know our hands are tied here. This is mandated. Nobody likes it, but it is what it is. But for me, as a trustee, to ensure that our kids are safe at all levels, I would really like us to really lean into this local policy," said Anna Smith, vice president of the Leander ISD Board of Trustees.
Board members agreed on adding a language in the resolution that included the reassurance of "a safe learning and teaching environment."
HB 3 became law on Sept. 1, but Leander ISD officials were unable to meet requirements.
On Sept. 7, the school board approved and adopted a resolution for an exception that claimed the district was unable to comply with HB 3 due to lack of funding and lack of employees who would be able to qualify for the roles needed.
"Hopefully the state will find and understand that with districts like ours – that financial responsibility is heavy to carry," Miller said.
He said depending on the route the district takes, they will likely have to file for another exception the next school year.
"I think that across the state, we're going to struggle to be able to meet these requirements just based on all 1,200-plus districts trying to meet that demand at the same time," Miller said.
The superintendent and the Board of Trustees are set to formally approve the resolution and budget amendment on Nov. 30.