Several security personnel positions are now available at the Dallas ISD Police Department, offering starting salaries of $39,230.
Dallas ISD police have launched a new recruitment effort. campaign for commissioned security officers to assist in maintaining safety and security at the district's 240 campuses in the 2024-2025 school year. The department currently has around 200 police officers, security officers, and administrative staff, who collaborate with Dallas ISD's School Safety, Monitoring, and Resources Department (SSMR).
SSMR was formed in response to Dallas ISD's challenges in meeting a new state law mandating a school resource officer or certified security officer at each publicly funded campus in Texas.
The commissioned security officer position, with a median salary of $47,872, would involve fulfilling the following responsibilities while complying with all relevant district policies and standards:
- identifying and addressing safety hazards and criminal activity
- patrolling campus grounds and buildings
- resolving conflicts among students, staff, and others on campus
- assisting in restraining, apprehending, and escorting disruptive or arrested individuals
To be eligible for employment, candidates must meet various requirements, including:
- being 21 years of age or older
- possessing a high school diploma or GED
- having a Texas Department of Public Safety Level III Security License
- being trained in subduing offenders, firearm use, de-escalating conflicts, and other skills
- undergoing a criminal background check, drug test, medical exam, and psychological evaluation
Those interested in applying can do so here. Newly hired personnel will receive a $2,000 hiring bonus and a $5,000 carrying stipend, pending approval of next year's budget by Dallas ISD's board of trustees.
As covered by The Dallas Express, with district officials seeking to reduce the budget, which is currently expected to reach about $1.9 billion, partly due to the new state-mandated security measures, new gear for police and security staff, modest salary increases for teachers and staff, and no additional state funding for public education following the last legislative session. Dallas ISD is reportedly facing a deficit of approximately $186 million.
Before presenting a final budget proposal to the Dallas ISD school board in May, Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde and other district officials will aim to efficiently allocate resources to prioritize providing “a safe, quality education” to students, according to a news release.
Dallas ISD has faced academic struggles for years, as indicated by the latest accountability report from the Texas Education Agency, which revealed that only 41% of Dallas ISD students performed at grade level on the 2021-2022 STAAR exam, and nearly 20% of graduating seniors did not earn a diploma within four years.
Safety concerns on district campuses have also been heightened recently by a student-involved shooting at Dallas ISD’s Wilmer-Hutchins High School. Some students at the school recently staged a walkout to protest inadequate security protocols.
