A high schooler enrolled in special education classes at Waxahachie High School was reportedly found in possession of a handgun.
Waxahachie Independent School District sent a letter to parents explaining that a teacher had spotted a weapon in the backpack belonging to a student with disabilities, according to WFAA. The teacher had not been given any reason to suspect that the gun was there but had been searching for school supplies at the time, the outlet reported.
The staff member quickly contacted the school administration, and a school resource officer arrived on scene, securing the weapon.
Waxahachie police are investigating the matter, but further details have not been released due to the student being a minor.
The district stressed that no disruption to the school day occurred.
“We do not believe any student had knowledge of this situation prior to its detection by our staff member,” the letter read.
Waxahachie ISD also applauded the swift actions of its staff and the authorities.
The issue of school security has been at the forefront of policymakers’ discussions nationwide. In Texas, a new law was passed making the presence of an armed peace officer mandatory on each public school campus.
Some districts have also implemented additional security measures. For instance, Mansfield ISD’s new Evolv Express high-tech security system uses AI technology to detect potential weapons carried by those who pass through the doors of its high school campuses, as previously reported in The Dallas Express. The initiative has been supported by students, who report feeling safer.
Dallas ISD, which saw two gun-related incidents in the 2022-2023 school year, launched a new “School Safety, Monitoring and Resources Department.” As covered in The Dallas Express, the department coordinates and runs security protocols across the district’s campuses. The district has also instituted a clear backpack policy among students, which the new department also oversees, although the efficacy of such policies has been questioned.
