BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) – Schools across the Brazos Valley are back in session this week, ready for the start of the new 2024-2025 school year. Like many other schools in the area, Bryan ISD is taking safety precautions.

With the new school year upon us, school safety is once again being discussed, and Bryan ISD officials said they are “now better prepared than ever” to keep students safe.

A report from the U.S. Secret Service’s National Threat Assessment Center says early intervention is key to preventing violence in schools. By trying to prevent violence before it happens, schools have more opportunities to offer help and resources to students in need.

However, district officials said they understand the pressure students may face when reporting concerns, especially when they come from a friend. That pressure is why Bryan ISD encourages the use of its B-Safe app, which allows students and parents to report incidents anonymously.

“When something is wrong, it’s like, ‘See something, say something.’ And that gives them an opportunity to tell us something,” said Rich Himmel, Bryan ISD’s assistant director of safety and security.

Whether on the bus, in the classroom, or at school events, the school district ensures that safety is the top priority.

“Whenever they are at school, whenever they go to school and come home, we want them to feel safe and to be safe, and we encourage that every day,” Himmel stressed.

Himmel told KBTX the state has a message for parents before the school year, and while he believes it is less applicable to Bryan ISD, it is still a good reminder.

“We would like to remind parents that it is very important to keep firearms at home out of reach and inaccessible to their children,” advises Himmel.

When students return to classrooms on Tuesday, Bryan ISD hopes the district’s safety precautions will give staff and parents peace of mind.

“I can send my students here to school with complete confidence,” added Kallie Donley, a parent and school district employee. “I know they are safe at school, and I am confident that all Bryan ISD staff and employees know what to do in the event of any incident.”

Like school districts across the state, Bryan ISD undergoes regular safety audits to ensure its school campuses comply with state laws regarding school safety. Himmel shared that Bryan ISD is in compliance with these state laws, as outlined in House Bill 3.

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