team and prioritize our safety plan.” The district has changed their policy to include locked doors, scissor gates at shops, secure fencing, shatterproof glass, and top-tier cameras, purchasing the Verkada product. Staff are also trained to respond to medical emergencies. “We want to make sure that when parents drop their students off at Thrall Schools, they can know they are safe,” stresses Hooker. “Our most recent survey showed 97% of parents and staff feel that we’re at high safety. I want this to show 100%.” Thrall ISD utilizes products such as the Centegix Alert system for lockdowns and safety procedures to protect students and staff. Mental health and emotional support are equally emphasized. Gola says, “We have some fantastic counselors at each of our campuses.They do a great job of implementing and planning an intentional comprehensive school counseling program, and they provide a multi-tiered system of support.” Counselors provide lessons on social skills, mental health, leadership, bullying, and suicide prevention. “They also do group counseling and individual counseling as student needs arise, and these are all preventatively, not just reactive,” she recounts. The district offers interagency support through partnerships with Impact Counseling Services, who work with students and families with more complex needs. “We also have Millie, our district therapy dog, who is housed at the elementary with 9 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 09 THRALL INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT
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