CHRISTOVAL, TX — In 1995 a law was passed permitting schools to allow certain personnel to carry firearms, in 2007 the guardian plan was created, in January of 2013 that plan was put into place at Christoval ISD.
“Christoval was the second in the state of Texas and we were the first to include long guns which includes tactical rifles and shotguns. Along with that I believe we were the first to include emergency medical trauma gear,” Christoval ISD Superintendent David Walker said.
While Walker, says they were among the first to act, it wasn’t until after tragedy struck that got many school officials thinking about a plan in the first place. The Sandy Hook school shooting in 2012 left the nation reeling, and school administrators having to prepare for the unthinkable…including Walker.
“We know it can last as short as three minutes, as long as twelve,” Walker said.
Those active shooter events happening often enough there are now official statistics about them.
“Every time when one of these things end it’s because they were met with a dynamic force,” Walker said.
That “dynamic force” in Christoval is already on campus.
The guardians are part of the faculty and staff but no one knows who they are other than each other, school board members, and law enforcement.
Walker says, the guardians have to spend a minimum of 40 hours on the range, take an intense 5 day training course that involves a variety of scenarios including hostage negotiation and participate in other trainings throughout the year. And, these guardians volunteered for the task.
“To go the extra mile, to do this extra training, to give up time in the summer, to take on the responsibility of running to the sound of gunfire so that others can protect their kids. And all they receive in return is a stipend. And basically, the stipend is to help them purchase ammunition throughout the year to train with,” Walker said.
With the school miles from the nearest law enforcement agency, meaning help is precious minutes away, these guardians have to act as a deterrent in an active shooter situation.
“All we’re looking to do is to stop a threat. Yes there’s prevention, we do a lot on that, we do a lot on mental health, but when it comes down to it, when all our other security measures fail, or if something didn’t get reported or it got reported but something still fell through the cracks, who’s gonna be here. Well it’s the staff. It’s the faculty and staff,” Walker said.