TISD Meets John Tyler Parents

There weren’t any fireworks last night, but when TISD administrators met with parents and teachers Thursday about the security assessment at John Tyler High School, there were lots of questions…
The man everyone probably wanted to talk to, Superintendent Randy Reid, wasn’t there.
And the large crowd got a lot of presentations…but not much information…
Deputy Superintendent Cecil McDaniel chaired the meeting, and representatives of the Texas School Safety Center were there to explain what the safety audit produced.

"That's primarily the system that we use,” said Tom Kelly of the Center. “ Then we will complete a report."

We got a lot of personal qualifications…and requests for patience, but not much about the safety assessment results.

"A little bit about who I am,” said Center Deputy Director Billy Jacobs. “My background is in criminology and corrections."

And though Jacobs said it was the killing of Todd Henry that triggered this procedure, the circumstances of the incident were never really discussed, until a teacher brought it up…

"As teachers,” she declared, “we have a right to know about a student who does have a history of mental illness and violence and how that procedure is going to be set up."

McDaniel responded, "If you know teachers who have concerns about a specific student, they need to bring it to our attention, because that is something I have not heard."

Of course, Todd Henry had concerns and they were brought to administrators attention according to his friend Justice of the Peace Mitch Shamburger.

Parents spoke up as well…

"…lockdown, and police officers walking around,” one mother said, “that puts me in mind of a concentration camp."

And another mother accused the administration of putting on a show. If so, it was a show that left many audience members wanting more…

This is the first of several meetings with parents and other community members, and many attendees we spoke with, hope there’s more detail next time…