In GCISD, safety is our top priority. Allen Smith is the Director of Emergency Management and School Security. The Board of Trustees approved this new position in June 2016 and Allen joined GCISD with twenty-five years of experience as a police officer with the last fifteen as a School Resource Officer. Visit here to learn more about Allen and the Security and Emergency Management team.

A “See Something, Say Something” icon and link is found on all student-issued computers and devices to ensure students can easily and anonymously report crimes, bullying, threats or students in crisis. Every student in GCISD has access to the link, which is a direct reporting site for Tarrant County Campus Crime Stoppers and Friends for Life.

Every campus has a door access management and control system to keep doors locked and alert campus administrative staff when doors are held open for an extended period of time. Non-essential doors are exit only.

The district initiated “teach behind the locked door” based on data and research showing that most armed intruders did not attempt to forcibly gain entry into a room that was locked. The district implemented this practice beginning in 2019 and it is now standard across all campuses. 

Campuses are equipped with a video intercom system at the main entrance to identify visitors before allowing them into the school. Additionally, all GCISD schools use a visitor management system to check the background of visitors for sexual offenses and to have a list of visitors in the building in the event of an incident. The system also produces identification stickers for visitors so students and staff know they are permitted to be in the building.

Video cameras are in place to view entrance points, campus hallways and certain outdoor areas.

Many campuses have speakers on the exterior of the building connected to the public announcement system. The remaining campuses will receive speakers as part of the renovations in 2020.

Signage is posted at all campuses reminding students to keep their building secure by not allowing unauthorized people into the building. 

Campus administrators emphasize the importance of staff building relationships with students and with other staff members in order to have a healthy campus culture and they encourage students to share information and report concerns.

The GCISD Council of PTAs held a School Safety Discussion for parents to attend that included a panel with area safety officials.

GCISD counselors and other District staff have been trained to use a threat assessment protocol to conduct assessments of students, staff, or others as needed to determine any possible level of the threat. Additionally, counselors have a list of current strategies for psychological safety and suicide prevention 

Counselors employ strategies with students for psychological safety and suicide prevention.

A specially trained crisis team provides counseling immediately following any traumatic event affecting students or staff.

Secondary campuses in GCISD have a Hope Squad, which is comprised of high school students who are trained to identify peers in need of assistance and report that information to counselors.

The District has a partnership with Mind Above Matter to provide mental health services to our students and families at the JPS facility.

Secondary students are required to wear their school identification badge while on campus.

GCISD regularly conducts tests of its emergency communication system, which includes email, text and phone message.

The District has filtering systems in place and has implemented cyber security measures, including routine phishing testing, monthly dark web searches and more to maintain a safe network.

If a student, parent, staff member or community member has a concern, please contact the Director of Emergency Management and School Security, Allen Smith at 817-251-5308, or Tarrant County Crime Stoppers and Campus Crime Stoppers at www.469.tips or 817-469-TIPS (8477).