Dear Round Rock ISD families,
Happy New Year! Looking ahead to the Spring semester, our team continues to work each day to build positive relationships, strengthen our security practices, and ensure students can focus on learning without worry.
Over the past several months, I’ve enjoyed connecting with families at community events and providing free firearm safety locks. Gun safety locks are one simple, proactive step that can help prevent accidents and protect the lives of all.
Keeping students safe is a shared responsibility that extends beyond our campuses and into our neighborhoods and homes. If you have missed us at recent events and would like a free gun safety lock, please email your request to the Round Rock ISD Police Department.
Our officers are dedicated to serving this community and prioritizing a safe and supportive environment for every student. We welcome conversations, questions, and feedback whenever you see us on campus or in the community. Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Fall “Coffee with a Cop”—we look forward to continuing the conversation and welcoming you to our next event this Spring.
Thank you for your partnership. It makes us stronger and helps support the work we do each day.
Respectfully,
Ryan Urrutia
Chief of Police
Round Rock ISD Police Department
Tips for Children Walking or Biking to School:
- Always cross at intersections and designated crosswalks. Look left, right, and left again before proceeding. Never attempt to cross a multi-lane highway.
- Be cautious when stepping off a bus or walking out from behind parked cars.
- Always use sidewalks whenever they're available.
- Make eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Never assume a driver sees you.
- Listen to and follow the crossing guard's guidance.
- Always wear a helmet when riding a bicycle.
- Put away phones and other devices that take your eyes and ears off the road.
- Look for cars turning in all directions, including those turning left or right. Be visible to drivers at all times.
- Follow all traffic rules, signs, and signals.
Safety Starts at the Bus Stop:
Students should arrive at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive and wait for the bus at least three giant steps (six feet) away from the curb. Please remind younger students that the bus stop is not a place to run or play. When the school bus arrives, students should wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s okay before approaching the bus door. Your child should use the handrails to avoid falling.
Bus Safety Rules:
🚍 Buckle up - It's the law!
🚍 Bus riders are required to have and use SMART®Tag.
🚍 Riders are to remain seated at all times.
🚍 Students can only get on and off at their assigned stops.
Bus drivers use yellow flashing lights to signal they are preparing to stop to load or unload children. Motorists should slow down and prepare to stop their vehicles. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms indicate the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off the bus. Texas law requires motorists to stop their cars and remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is retracted, and the bus begins moving before they can resume driving.
Fentanyl in Communities:
Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid typically used to treat patients with chronic severe pain or severe pain following surgery. Under the supervision of a licensed medical professional, fentanyl has a legitimate medical use. However, illegally manufactured fentanyl has become dangerous among communities.
According to the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) website, fentanyl is often found in counterfeit pills, disguised and sold as something else, like Xanax, Percocet, or oxycodone. While fentanyl may be present in pills, it can also be found in more commonly used products such as vape cartridges.
Round Rock ISD secondary campus nurses and police officers are equipped with Narcan, a potentially life-saving medication designed to help reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.
Know the Drill Safety and Security Terminology:
Secure: A Secure is called when there is a possible threat outside. The building is secured to prevent entry or exit. No one is allowed in or out of the building. Generally, the instructional day continues as usual. Typically, it only impacts planned outdoor activities and could affect campus start or dismissal times.
A campus administrator may announce Secure when there is police activity in the area and a report of a suspicious or threatening person, a dangerous animal, or other environmental hazards near campus. Campuses conduct two Secure drills each semester.
Lockdown: A Lockdown is called when there is a report of a possible threat inside the building, such as an intruder, weapon, hostile individual, criminal activity, or an active shooter.
During a Lockdown, classroom doors and offices are secured, and room occupants are silent and removed from the line of sight of corridor windows. Campuses conduct two Lockdown drills per semester. If students or staff are in an unsecured area or outside during Lockdown, they are instructed to go to the safest possible area away from the threat.
Evacuate: An Evacuation is used when students and staff need to move from one location to a predetermined evacuation area, usually outside the building, in response to a report of a fire, bomb threat, or other emergency. Campuses conduct one evacuation (fire) drill every month with ten or more instructional days.
Shelter: A Shelter is called in the event of a tornado, severe weather, flooding, earthquake, a hazardous spill, or release. Students and staff may need to shelter in place. Campuses conduct two shelter drills per semester. Discover mover safety and security terminology.