San Marcos CISD school board approves school marshal program

“I think it is in alignment with our communities values to do whatever we can to protect our schools, and our most precious resource, which is our children,” said San Marcos CISD Board Vice President Miguel Arredondo at Monday’s meeting. 

A school marshal has the same power as a police officer during a life-threatening situation. All marshals will be chosen by the school board, be school district employees, their identities will be unknown, and they will carry a concealed handgun, said Doug Wozniak, San Marcos CISD director of safety and health services, during the presentation.

Those wishing to join the program have to be certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), which includes passing a psychological exam, TCOLE training, a written exam, and having a current handgun license, Wozniak noted.

Wozniak stated that teachers at San Marcos CISD will not be armed. The San Marcos school marshal program would be similar to the Wylie ISD model. Besides watching over the campuses, the marshals will be involved with other training events like Stop the Bleed and writing emergency operation plans.

Of the more than 1,200 school districts in Texas, 74 have an operating marshal program with roughly 300 school marshals.