Frisco Independent School District (Frisco ISD) has announced several updates to its security measures for the new school year, emphasizing ongoing efforts to maintain a safe environment for students and staff.
The district continues its partnership with the Frisco, Little Elm, Plano, and McKinney police departments through the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. Each secondary campus is assigned a dedicated SRO. According to Frisco ISD, “SROs do far more than provide security. They are a daily presence in FISD schools, building trust and connections with students and staff. For families, the SRO program provides peace of mind knowing that campuses are supported by trained professionals who care deeply about student success and well-being.”
Elementary campuses are monitored by SRO rovers who patrol multiple schools each day. In some cases, SROs from nearby middle schools also help monitor elementary sites.
Recently, the Frisco ISD Board of Trustees approved the implementation of a School Marshal program at elementary campuses. The marshals will be highly trained former peace officers working full-time at these schools. Requirements include prior experience as a commissioned peace officer, completion of an 80-hour training course, and passing an L-3 psychological evaluation.
The rollout of this program began over the summer with two lead marshals hired to assist in recruiting campus-based marshals. As of mid-September, more than 20 campus-based marshals have been hired and will begin work at elementary campuses this fall. The district reports significant interest in these roles, with over 160 applications received for marshal and lead positions.
Security technology has also been upgraded across district facilities. Hundreds of exterior and interior cameras now allow real-time monitoring by both district staff and local law enforcement. All school visitors enter through a single point that is video-monitored and requires ID verification.
During the summer months, external camera coverage was expanded while interior cameras were upgraded for improved surveillance capabilities. Additionally, forty-nine campuses received updated doorbell systems integrated with a new video management system.
To further strengthen infrastructure security, some facility windows have been updated to meet or exceed attack-resistant standards required by regulations.
Frisco ISD continues to utilize SAFER (Situational Awareness for Emergency Response), an emergency management platform launched in 2008 in collaboration with local law enforcement agencies. This system integrates live camera feeds from school campuses and tracks personnel locations during emergencies to enable coordinated responses under a formal agreement with the city of Frisco.
The district’s Standard Response Protocol (SRP), which outlines five specific actions—Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, Shelter, and Hold—remains in place as part of emergency preparedness procedures. The SRP ensures uniform response among faculty, staff, and students during emergencies.
In addition to following state-mandated multi-hazard Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), Frisco ISD has implemented campus-level EOPs even though state law does not require them.
This past summer saw safety training sessions for SROs, transportation staff members, and special education personnel based on real-world scenarios and procedural updates.
Few Texas districts employ dedicated emergency management personnel; however, Frisco ISD maintains that such investment is vital: “Safety in FISD is about the tools, techniques, resources and training that allow the District to effectively prepare for, respond to and recover from any type of emergency — but it’s also about creating a culture where everyone is prepared to protect and support one another.”
More information about Frisco ISD’s security programs can be found on their official website.
