A mother and daughter are seen on their way to school. (credit: Janek Skarzynski/AFP/Getty Images)
DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – For some it’s the end of a tradition that has taken place for generations. Security enhancements at many North Texas schools this year may keep parents at the curb.
All of the extra security is in response to what happened nearly nine months ago at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. It was December of last year when a gunman opened fire at the school, killing 20 students and six adults.
In the Hurst-Euless-Bedford (HEB) Independent School District, the tradition of walking a young one to class won’t change…for the first week. What’s already being done in other districts is about to happen there.
Parents registered and enrolled their children today, one week before the school year begins for the HEB school system.
But there’s a new rule waiting for parents like Tamara Moore and Angela Shamblin. It deals with access to their youngsters and both mothers have a certain view about the rule.
“I really want to take my son to class. Since it’s his first time in school,” Moore said protectively. “They may have security, but I want to know where my kid is going at all times.”
Shamblin had a different viewpoint as she dropped off her little one. “As long as I can see him walk in that building, that will be fine. Because once he’s in that building they’ll take care of him.”
For years, parents were given clearance to walk their children directly to their classroom, if they wished. But enhanced security measures on public school campuses include the elimination of parents walking their children to classrooms, after the first week of school.
The Richardson ISD, for example, hasn’t allowed parents to walk students to classrooms for years.
Officials in the HEB school district say they’re simply joining the ranks of many. “It’s very busy on a campus first thing in the morning, dropping off kids arriving for the day,” said district spokesperson Judy Everett Ramos. “So, being able to know who’s in the building, who’s in front, who’s deeper into the building, is very important in keeping our kids safe.”
The Grapevine-Colleyville School District, just like Dallas ISD, offers a campus-by-campus decision on the “walk to class” rule.
From this point forward parents of the young ones at HEB will have to adjust. “It don’t surprise me a bit,” one parent said. “All the security going around, all the things going on, it doesn’t surprise me at all.”
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