Manor ISD gets feedback from community on safety protocols following fatal stabbing
MANOR, Texas (KXAN) --- On Wednesday, the Manor Independent School District held a meeting for the community to voice safety needs at its campuses.
This comes less than a month after police arrested a student and charged them for stabbing and killing another student on a high school campus.
"It's really about talking and listening to the community and hearing what we can do together as one group moving forward," said Manor ISD Superintendent Dr. Robert Sormani.
Safety changes
Since the stabbing, Sormani said the district reduced the number of entry points and added metal-detecting wands at district high schools.
It also contracted with a law firm to do an independent review of safety protocols before and after the stabbing.
At the meeting, staff and families discussed how they feel about current and potential future protocols.
"It's not going to fix anything overnight, but if we can really come together, truly as a community, instead of it just being something that we say in a newsletter that goes home, it makes a difference," said Manor ISD parent Nealy Guidry.
Some said they're encouraged by the physical safety enhancements but also support other initiatives, like a character education program focused on conflict resolution for both students and staff.
"Change the way that they're thinking and the way that they're moving around the world that creates a safer environment as well," said Manor ISD High School Principal Brandon Powell.
Sormani said he'll take this feedback and use it as building blocks for a bigger safety plan in the future.
"Approach our Board of Trustees," Sormani said. "Here's what I think our community is saying, and here are the ideas that we can start doing and tackling long term together."
The district emailed a survey to parents to learn what they want to see in terms of safety. The superintendent said Manor ISD already received 1,400 responses.
The survey will stay open until Friday. The district will have another community meeting on Dec. 4 at Decker Middle School.