Last year we went to a high school football game and my wife commented about the security gauntlet that we had to go through as visitors to the event.  We could smell the soft pretzels and popcorn awaiting us from the concessions stand while wading through the sea of people just to get in.  For a high school event my wife commented that it felt like a full TSA, at the airport on a holiday weekend experience, but with a little less dignity. 

First up was the ticket scan, then we headed through a bag check line.  It felt like a slow walk of shame with woman’s purses being emptied and laid out for all to view.  I had not seen that many tampons, contraband lip balm, and smuggled trail mix in my lifetime.  Clearly, they thought the woman were carrying weapons of mass destruction. 

Next was the metal detector, which was one belt buckle away from the beeping gateway of judgement.  Even if you’ve removed your belt, your shoes, your watch, and every shred of self-respect, it still went off. Why? Because the machine doesn’t detect metal, it detects your audacity. It knows you’ve sinned, probably by attempting to carry a bottle of Dasani through the checkpoint.  Then came the handwand if you failed the walk-through metal detector.  Nothing screams fun night out of high school football like being gently frisked by a part-time community college student in a reflective vest who’s three hours into their six-hour shift and seriously considering a career in goat herding.

Once you finally pass through the gates—sans dignity, snacks, and your favorite keychain that looked vaguely threatening—we felt free at last. Free to enjoy our grandson’s game by squinting at the Jumbotron while wondering how cramped the parking lot would be when the game is over and pondering if you should leave early in the last quarter to avoid the mass exodus of smelly high school students acting obnoxious.  But hey, at least we’re safe. After all, nothing deters a truly determined criminal like a 21-year-old with a handheld wand and a clipboard.

It made us wonder about Frisco ISD’s security and when we read the police report related to the Metcalf / Anthony event, what security did they have that day?  We talked to an insider who reached out to us about the security (ie. Police Officers) at any and all FISD events. We were told they are there for the presence and general safety of the people in attendance (everyone but student athletes) whether anything should be needed when it comes to criminal laws. If the police were present that day they would have been on the opposite side (home stands) as that is where the general public is watching from.

As for the athletes, the insider told us they are sitting in groups on the visitor side and probably have no idea that officers are or would be there. Based on current policies our insider told us this incident still would have happened. The insider went on to say that each school is in charge of their student athletes which includes an Administrator from each school and any of those schools Track Coaches. They are “in charge” of the students/ athletes, since it is still a school activity.  They went on to say meaning no police responsibility at all.

They went on to say it is just like in the schools, SROs enforce the criminal aspects only.  School rule enforcement is up to the school administrators and staff. Varsity football is the only FISD sport that uses any walk-through metal detectors and that’s because of the venues they use like Toyota and Ford Centers.   Lastly, they told us that Coach K brings in “security” staff to use hand wands and only for football. No athletes anywhere in the district are scanned or wanded for weapons in any sport.

After talking to the insider, this is what parents should be asking the district today:

1. Was there a police presence that day and if so, were they only on the side where the general public sits?

2. Who was the Administrator assigned to each school that day?  They obviously were not at the tents, so where were they?

3. If the track coaches are on the field, then who is overseeing the students while in the bleachers?

4. Will the policies change, and will they have hand wanding at all events?  Will it include the general public and students?  Why is a Coach responsible for bringing in security.  Why does the district not have district policies of when police presence is required?  Well only when its practical or appropriate – you will read about that below.

5. Where was the administrator, coaches and trainers in relation to the tents?

After talking to the insider, we were curious what the district has published in relation to the security enforcement.  According to Frisco ISD’s website they have a whole section on security which reads, “In Frisco ISD, the safety of students, staff and visitors is our top priority and we take this responsibility very seriously.”  After everything we have heard from parents and district insiders security is not a top priority for the district. 

It goes on to read, “Our comprehensive security program addresses prevention, intervention, student assistance, preparedness, emergency response and building security.   FISD routinely reviews safety and security procedures and makes adjustments when necessary. That means we’re constantly exploring new and creative ways to enhance existing security measures and adopting those policies and protocols proven to be effective in reducing risk. It is a team effort – we rely on the continued support of students, parents and the community to keep our schools safe. We work closely with our local police and fire departments to coordinate prevention and response activities, perform regular security audits and provide frequent training to all employees on security issues.”

1. We would love to see that comprehensive security program they have.

2. New and creative ways to enhance existing security?  I would like you to be more practical than creative when it comes to security for my kids.

3. Team Effort?  So now they are putting it back on the students and parents?

4. Security Audits: We would like to know when they conducted the last 3 audits and did, they every include the athletics events specifically?

They have a whole page on the website dedicated to the School Resource Officer Program.  We noticed it says the district partners with police departments in Frisco, Plano, McKinney and Little Elm provide School Resource Officers (SROs) who are assigned to all middle and high schools, as well the Career and Technical Education Center and Student Opportunity Center.  Officers assigned to middle schools have responsibility for two to three elementary schools. Additionally, the Town of Little Elm has one SRO for the District’s two elementary schools, and extra officers and patrols support elementary schools in Frisco, McKinney and Plano.

1. It lists 8 SRO’s on their website so how do they have one assigned to “all middle and high schools?”

2. If middle school SRO’s are over two to three elementary schools how many times are they on each campus, each week?

According to the site SRO’s are employees of the police departments, with salaries, vehicles and equipment being a shared cost. SROs are armed at all times and are highly trained by their respective police departments to respond in the event of an emergency. They are also equipped with medical supplies and specialized tools to assist in a crisis situation.  

1. What SRO was at the UIL track meet and did they have medical supplies and specialized tools to assist in the crisis?

We found some of their duties and responsibilities interesting, such as take enforcement action on criminal offenses when appropriate.  Handle initial police reports of crimes committed on campus. Provide a police presence during events and functions, as appropriate, when requested by the principal and as approved by an SRO Sergeant or Police Administration. When practical, attend all school special events.  When possible and practical, divert juveniles out of the criminal justice system into other social agencies.

Read that again!  Taking enforcement action on criminal offenses when appropriate?  Who determines what is appropriate?  Handle initial police reports of crimes?  Who handles the police reports after the SRO does the initial police report?  Provide a police presence during events “AS APPROPTIRATE, WHEN REQUESTED” – what?  When practical attend all school special events?  Who determines what is appropriate, who is responsible for requesting it, and who determines what is practical?  If you as us it sounds like a lot of interpretation is left open!

Got a problem – well report it in an app called STOPit!  Parents who want to make a report can via the world wide web.  What happened to the days of talking to the principal and counselors directly?

After hearing about what happened to Austin Metcalf, my wife looked at me and said, “Next time we go to a game for our grandson, she will not complain about the security measures in place ever again.” Austin Metcalf deserved a district that could rise to the moment, that had the leadership, protocols, consistent policies, and foresight to protect him. What he got instead was a tangled web of confusion, inconsistency, and silence masquerading as policy.  Frisco ISD’s lack of clear procedures and its failure to act decisively didn’t just expose cracks in the system—it revealed a gaping hole where leadership should’ve been. If we don’t demand change now—real, accountable, uncomfortable change—then we’ve learned nothing from Austin’s death. And worse, we’ve accepted that this kind of tragedy is just the cost of sending our kids to school when it shouldn’t be. It can’t be.