In the continuing battle for campus security and to make sure college students comply with college guidelines, Killeen ISD has just lately stepped up its pupil search actions.
At Harker Heights High School, Assistant Principal Jesus Uranga in late September despatched an electronic mail to oldsters and guardians which mentioned:
“Beginning Monday, September 30, 2024, it is mandatory that every student place their cell phone, earbuds, and/or smartwatch in their Yondr pouch during the day. Random spot checks for compliance will be conducted. If your child is in violation of the policy by not having their phone, earbuds, and/or smartwatch secured in the pouch, they are subject to the appropriate consequences.”
Parents who query the district’s proper to go looking their pupil’s belongings has change into a sensitive topic for KISD directors.
One mother or father wrote to Uranga and Principal Jorge Soldevilla saying she believed the process to be a “blatant disregard for student rights,” and notified the district {that a} formal grievance was pending concerning the searches at the highschool.
According to the Student Code of Conduct, district officers might search in accordance with state and federal regulation. It does say within the KISD Board Policy Manual that, “students shall be free from unreasonable searches … by school officials … by establishing reasonable cause or with voluntary consent.”
Uranga issued one other assertion to oldsters that included language within the first electronic mail and included a sentence that mentioned, “… the frequency of these checks will increase.”
The emails stem from the district’s effort to implement KISD’s new cellphone coverage, which requires pupil cellphones to be locked up in a pouch in the course of the college day.
The Herald reached out to KISD spokesperson Karen Rudolph about this challenge and obtained the next response:
“Our high schools are utilizing metal detectors and wands upon entering the schools. Additionally, all secondary schools are checking for compliance with our cellphone free school policies as students enter the building. This is all part of ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and focused learning environment.”
Dina Vega of Harker Heights is one mother or father who is anxious concerning the searches after receiving the emails from Uranga. She mentioned she emailed Heights High management, however didn’t obtain a response from both Uranga or the varsity’s principal, Jorge Soldevilla,
The mother or father additionally contacted KISD administration.
Vega requested KISD Assistant Superintendent Susan Buckley, Administrative Services and Superintendent Jo Ann Fey concerning the emails and her considerations concerning the intent of the plan to go looking college students.
“Dr. Buckley stated that the messages to parents could have been worded better and that searches of the student’s person and/or belongings without reasonable suspicion was not the plan to confirm the use of the Yondr pouches,” Vega advised the Herald in an electronic mail final week. “She also stated that reasonable suspicion is necessary to perform a search of a student’s person and/or belongings and she would ensure all campuses understood this.”
“Dr. Fey also followed-up on my concerns and has assured me that student’s rights are of the utmost importance. She also stated that she and her administration are working diligently on adjusting the culture of administrators not responding to parent concerns and to building relationships with parents, students & the community.”
On Monday, college students arrived at HHHS and weren't searched, in accordance with Vega.
“I’m solely interested in ensuring that things are being done lawfully within KISD,” Vega mentioned.
After asking KISD in the event that they have been performing random pupil searches final week, Rudolph responded in an electronic mail: “Yes, and what that means is students are being asked to show their locked pouches as they enter the building each morning,” Rudolph mentioned.
