EDUCATION SERVICE DELIVERY
This chapter reviews Riviera Independent School District's (Riviera ISD) educational service delivery and performance in four key areas:
F. DISCIPLINE MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY
- A. Student Performance and Instructional Program Delivery
- B. Gifted and Talented Program
- C. Compensatory Education
- D. Career and Technology Education
- E. Technology
- F. Discipline Management and Safety
The safety and security of students and teachers in schools has become one of the most critical issues facing the nation. For many districts, safety and security is one of the fastest growing items in the budget. In 1996-97, the state started tracking expenditures for security and monitoring services as a separate expenditure item. It is not unusual for districts to have full-time law enforcement departments staffed with officers, security guards and dispatchers.
The Riviera ISD staff is well aware of potential security problems. Immediately prior to TSPR site visit, the district found a bomb threat written on bathroom walls and had taken rigorous action to address it. Riviera's rural location and small size allows individual focus on students, providing an atmosphere that administrators and board members consider relatively safe.
FINDING
An agreement with the Kleberg County Sheriff's Department allows Riviera ISD to avoid spending district funds on security while ensuring a safe environment at all school facilities. The Kleberg County Sheriff's Department, through a state grant, provides campus security. Under this $29,955 grant, a sheriff's deputy is on the grounds during school hours. The grant also provided two law enforcement classes and sponsorship of a high school club called the Explorers. During the second semester of the 1999-2000 school year, 51 students participated in the law enforcement classes.The Kleberg County Sheriff's Department also funds the DARE program for students in grade 3 to 5. Students in grades 3 and 4 receive periodic lessons from a police officer on safety issues. Students in grade 5 receive weekly lessons for an entire semester and graduate from the program.
COMMENDATION
Riviera ISD, through grant funds and by working with the Kleberg County Sheriff's Department, not only meets campus security needs, but also enhanced its curricular and extracurricular activities by teaching law enforcement courses and sponsoring a high school club.