As we are now in the final month of the 2025–2026 school year, we remain dedicated to maintaining safe schools and are providing this update to ensure our community stays connected and well-informed. Please take a moment to review our latest community safety updates.
Board Approves Additional Safety Projects at April Meeting
During the regular April Board meeting, our Klein ISD Trustees approved several items to continue enhancing safety and security throughout the district. These items include approval of:
- 2026 Districtwide Safety and Security Enhancements Project—additional security enhancements, including, but not limited to, keyless entry, shatterproof window filming, and enhanced main entry access control
- Contractor for the 2025 Facilities and Safety Project—additional security enhancements, including, but not limited to, fire alarm upgrades, and Public Address (PA) replacements
- Emergency Operations Staging Area Site Extension Agreement between Klein ISD and CenterPoint Energy
Safety Report #7 Delivered to Board of Trustees
The seventh in a series of regular board updates on school safety in Klein ISD was provided to the trustees. The report included highlights of how Klein ISD employs a comprehensive, layered safety model encompassing prevention, response, and support, ensuring all schools are staffed with a Klein ISD Police presence, a certified counselor, and a registered nurse. You can view the full safety report at https://www.youtube.com/live/iMbaRotKbOw?si=-tAy0zi8EdgEXX-f&t=4223.
Klein ISD Police Department (KPD) Training Hours and Partnerships
The Klein ISD Police Department (KPD), Texas's first school-based police department (1982) and a state model, maintains a high level of security and preparedness. It is the only school police department with the FBI-LEEDA Agency Trilogy designation.
KPD maintains readiness through extensive training, logging over 2,400 hours during Summer 2025 on subjects like District Attorney intake procedures, use of force protocols, and ballistic shield training. KPD also leads the Active Attack Integrated Response (ALERRT/AAIR) Training Initiative, an evidence-based framework for active threat situations. This initiative involved KPD partnering with other first responder agencies to deliver 15 two-day classes, resulting in nearly 6,000 training hours for approximately 380 police, fire, EMS, and dispatch personnel.
All-Staff Training and Campus Drills
KPD and Dr. McGown annually visit with the staff at schools and departments, covering the Standard Response Protocol (Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter) and the Avoid Deny Defend Response Model, with time allotted for answering questions. Every school completes at least 10 safety drills annually, exceeding state requirements, under the Director of Emergency Management's guidance. Furthermore, mandatory online safety training for staff has increased by 27% over the last three years.
External Safety Audits Complete at Every School
Klein ISD has long conducted regular safety audits across all campuses—both internally and in partnership with external agencies. These established safety audits remain a critical part of our safety system.
As part of our deep commitment to continuous improvement, especially in safety and security, earlier this year, Klein ISD initiated a comprehensive safety vulnerability audit. This review, which was conducted throughout the month of March, is an added layer designed to further strengthen our safety culture by providing an additional, independent perspective.
At the District's request, 100% of our campuses have now completed this evaluation by the Texas Education Agency Office of Safety and School Security. District and KPD leadership met with the lead external auditor to review the results of this comprehensive safety vulnerability audit. The items related to safety on the Board agenda recommended and approved by the school board during the April board meeting are a result of this comprehensive external audit, will benefit every school in Klein ISD, and go above and beyond what was recommended by auditors to include.
A Certified Counselor on Every Campus
Every school in our district is staffed with at least one certified counselor who dedicates their time to individual planning, guidance lessons, responsive services, and mental health support for students. Additionally, Mental Health Specialists, known as Child Youth Services (CYS), are housed at every high school and extend their support to all campuses, including elementary and intermediate schools.
A Registered Nurse on Every Campus
Klein ISD Health Services, established in 1981, ensures comprehensive care by employing at least one registered nurse at every school, differentiating the district from many others that rely on shared nursing services. This commitment allows clinic staff to provide uninterrupted services, including daily monitoring, scheduled treatments, chronic condition management, and rapid emergency response.
2022 Bond Safety Work Continues
Thanks to our Board of Trustees, safety and security projects were approved first in the 2022 Bond program. Klein ISD leadership prioritized these safety projects and requested Board approval for these safety projects first as a commitment to student and staff safety, with the goal of keeping them a top priority for our entire community.
State of the District Virtual Townhall: April 30
Klein ISD invited the community to join the State of the District Virtual Townhall last month. During the event, Dr. McGown and Chief Runnels answered questions live from parents and community members about safety and other topics. View the full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJfJonYttdo
KPD Earns Elite State Accreditation Through External Evaluation
The Klein ISD Police Department has earned accreditation through the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TPCA) Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. This voluntary, elite distinction is held by fewer than 8% of the approximately 2,800 law enforcement agencies in Texas.
Only nine school district police departments statewide have achieved this recognition. The accreditation process includes a comprehensive external evaluation and requires compliance with more than 170 Texas Law Enforcement Best Practices. This achievement reflects the professionalism, preparedness, and high standards upheld every day to protect students and staff. You can read the full story at https://www.kleinisd.net/article/2810567.
Free Gun Locks Available at KPD
As an added safety measure, the Klein ISD Police Department partners with our community to promote responsible gun safety. We encourage everyone to do their part to keep our community, especially our children, safe by properly securing firearms at all times. Firearms that are left unattended can lead to serious injury, particularly when they are accessible to children or individuals who are not trained in safe handling and responsibility. Gun locks are available at no cost at our KPD Police Station, located at 7407 Louetta Rd, Klein, TX 77379.
Keep Klein Safe
Klein ISD remains deeply grateful for the strong partnership between the Klein ISD Police Department and local law enforcement agencies. Their ongoing collaboration on and around campuses plays a critical role in maintaining a safe and secure environment for all.
As always, students, staff, and families are encouraged to report concerns through the Keep Klein Safe anonymous reporting system at https://www.kleinisd.net/keepkleinsafe or by contacting Klein ISD Police 24/7 at (832) 249-4266. This tool allows the community to quickly and confidentially share information so concerns can be addressed proactively.
Thank you, Klein Families!
In Klein ISD, the safety and well-being of every student and staff member is not a seasonal priority; it is a year-round commitment woven into everything we do. From our police department's elite accreditation to the counselors and nurses on every campus, we are proud to stand as a district where families can trust that their children are protected, supported, and valued each and every day.
As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, we are grateful for a community that partners with us in this important work of keeping Klein safe. Safe schools are built together — and Klein ISD is stronger because of you.