Dear Klein ISD Families and Staff,
Police Chief Marlon Runnels and I are writing to you today not just as your superintendent and chief of police, but as parents of children who attend Klein ISD schools.
This week, three separate and unrelated incidents involving firearms occurred on Klein ISD campuses. We want to address these incidents together, because together, they demand a response that goes beyond what any single school can provide.
At Klein Collins High School, a student discharged a firearm he had brought to campus while alone in a restroom. No one was injured. The student was immediately detained, arrested, and emergency expelled, and now faces felony charges.
At Zwink Elementary, an individual entered the front office after an authorized guest exited without fully securing the door. The individual appeared to be wearing a uniform with a holstered firearm. When front office staff asked the individual for identification, he did not provide it. Staff immediately contacted the school’s full-time armed campus guard, and the individual left without incident. At no time did the individual move beyond the front office or have access to students. The individual was later identified, arrested, and charged with a felony.
This morning at Klein High School, a student brought an unloaded handgun to campus and showed it to other students. Those students reported it to staff, and the student was quickly identified and the unloaded weapon secured. The student was detained, emergency expelled, and felony charges are being pursued.
In each case, our Klein ISD staff and police did exactly what they are trained to do. They responded quickly, they kept our students and staff safe, and they ensured there were serious consequences for these three individuals. Today and every day, we are incredibly grateful for our staff and all who keep us safe.
In Klein ISD, our armed police officers and guards are full-time, on-campus, and exceptional. Our staff are trained and vigilant. Our buildings are equipped with cameras, secure vestibules, and layered access controls. Our students continue to do the right thing by reporting concerns to trusted adults. At the same time, incidents like these remind us that we must always continue strengthening our safety efforts. These ideas are not in conflict. They go together.
A meeting was held with principals this afternoon to update them on additional security measures that will be effective at all schools upon our return from Spring Break on March 23:
Police presence will be increased at each school in partnership with additional law enforcement agencies.
Random metal detector screenings will be increased. These will occur on an unannounced, rotating schedule. Students will be required to pass through the screening at any time asked when on their campus.
Random searches with K-9 police units will be increased in partnership with additional law enforcement agencies across our campuses.
We know that it is not one safety approach that makes the difference, but rather our layered approach to safety measures that keep students and staff safe. In addition to our current practices and increasing our safety measures after Spring Break, we would like your feedback on safety efforts moving forward. If you have ideas you would like to share with us, please email them to feedback@kleinisd.net.
Parents, please talk to your children over Spring Break about the seriousness of bringing a weapon to school. Any student who chooses to bring a weapon into one of our schools will leave in handcuffs, will be expelled, and will face felony charges. That was true this week, and it will remain true.
Parents, please also ensure that any firearms in your home are stored safely and securely, completely inaccessible to minors. And please remind them that if they ever see or hear something that does not feel right, the right move is to tell a trusted adult immediately.
As always, concerns can be reported at any time, anonymously, through our Keep Klein Safe platform at https://kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe, or by calling Klein ISD Police 24 hours a day at (832) 249-4266.
Our schools belong to this community. Keeping them safe is something we do together, and we remain committed to doing our part every single day.
Sincerely,
Dr. Jenny McGown
Superintendent, Klein ISD
Chief Marlon Runnels
Klein ISD Police Department