Lubbock Cooper ISD Adds Armed Police to Every School
With school safety at the center of national debate one local school district has taken action and doubled their security within the last few weeks. KLBK's Michaela MacDonald has more.
-->By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: January 26, 2013
"We now are able to provide each campus with an armed certified police officer and we are pretty proud about that fact," Lubbock Cooper ISD Police Chief Rick Saldana, "Lubbock Cooper is very big on providing a safe school environment where teachers feel safe to teach and our students feel safe learning."
"I am very comfortable at Lubbock Cooper," said Kristy Jimenez, who teaches 12th grade at Lubbock Cooper High School and also has two young sons in the district.
"It makes me feel very safe knowing that the district is taking measures in hiring new officers and even making physical changes to schools to make it safer for all of us," said Jimenez.
Lubbock Cooper will be paying the extra salaries with a budget amendment that will NOT raise the district's taxes.
But this increase in security comes as the state senate is set to discuss the "Texas School District Safety Act", which would allow local tax payers to vote on increased taxes for enhanced school security.
"I think if we have to pay a little more as taxpayers to make our schools safe and that's what the district thinks is best, than that is something that we really need to consider," said Jimenez.
Chief Saldana says although no one can guarantee 100% safety, he is very confident in his officers to deal with any issues at the schools.
