New security booths installed across all Southside ISD campuses

Security measure also works to serve for logistical purposes

SAN ANTONIO – All Southside Independent School District campuses have a new installation that aims to heighten security measures.

Before parents, guardians or visitors can even reach the front door of the school, they’ll have to first be cleared by Southside ISD police officers at new guard shacks.

According to Southside ISD Chief of Police, Don Tijerina, the guard shacks are now school’s first line of defense.

“Police officers will ask for some form of identification,” Tijerina said. “Their first role will be to run the person’s identification through a software system. That system identifies potential sex offenders. If it’s a yes, then there’s certain alerts that go out to the police department.”

Safety and security are the primary purpose for the guard shacks, but they will also help the police department with logistics in case of an incident on-campus.

“We want to know who’s on campus in case we have to evacuate. We need to get a head count and have identification for everybody,” Tijerina said.

The Southside ISD Police Department has also amped up their security to serve the schools 24/7.

According to the school district’s executive director of operations Henry Izaguirre, police officers will also help control and direct traffic during peak hours. To ease the burden, check-ins at guard shacks will not be required during those times.

“If you’re dropping off a student in the mornings, it will be a little bit more relaxed because we have so many people. It’s impossible for us to stop every parent,” Izaguirre said.

To contact the Southside ISD Police Department, click here.


About the Authors
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Alicia Barrera is a KSAT 12 News reporter and anchor. She is also a co-host of the streaming show KSAT News Now. Alicia is a first-generation Mexican-American, fluent in both Spanish and English with a bachelor's degree from Our Lady of the Lake University. She enjoys reading books, traveling solo across Mexico and spending time with family.

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