What school districts are looking into to enhance security
A bullet-resistant glass was demonstrated on how strong it is in front of school representatives. But, like many school districts have mentioned to News 4, this is just an option and one tiny piece of the puzzle to protecting students.
"It is a fully ballistic system made for ordinary glass," says Michael Wanke of A1 Glass Coating, a San Antonio company that attaches the film to the glass. The film is sealed on glass with a "C-bond BRS bullet resistant film system. C-bond is a patented, "green", water based nano-technology solution designed to significantly increase the strength and flexibility of glass and the glass to film system that is much more cost effective than other solutions."
This is just an option to re-fit school campus glass using the specialized film.
School districts like Northeast ISD and New Braunfels ISD tell us they have also used this kind of film on several campuses.
"There are a lot of people looking at it not just schools but private businesses that are looking at their security," says Tim Sortore, a construction representative for a nearby school.
He says if this film is used, it will be fitted on all of the glass in the schools, "this particular product for potential use on a school that has, based upon what happened in Uvalde, is looking at their options of protecting their students."
San Antonio ISD Bond Deputy Chief Operations Officer Kedrick Wright said this kind of film is an option, but there are many other options to heighten security.
"Providing opportunities inside the classroom to hide, again with the lockdown procedure we're building walls and cubbies to where enough students and enough teachers can get out of sight," says Wright, who says they've also implemented opaque windows and moving furniture in their new school, Burbank High School.
He says the ballistic-like glass is just an option for other enhancements, that are separate from the 2020 bond. Wright says construction for the bond begins in 8 to 10 months, but due to the tragedy in Uvalde, there's some urgency.
"We'd rather expedite some of these easy wins, if you will. To some of our campuses potentially that we could go ahead and accelerate some of these inclusions."
SAISD, like other school districts, told us right now they are all in the "gathering information" phase. There is no definite list at the moment for what many school districts are doing for next school year to improve security measures, however, News 4 has been told that the priority is to protect students and use taxpayer dollars wisely.
