In a recent eye-opening meeting with a Texas School superintendent, the harsh truth emerged about the influx of companies capitalizing on the urgency to sell unrealistic security programs to schools across the state. As the non-profit security guard company behind the meeting, we felt it was our duty to offer a comprehensive solution, the School Officer Program, that not only funds and services school officer placements but also involves an essential ingredient: community volunteers. We don't want armed strangers coming into your schools any more than you do, we want you to make that decision rather than a profit-driven security company salesman.
TLDR stands for "Too Long; Didn't Read". Our program documentation is extensive - we hope this document will convince you that our program is worth your time and effort to investigate it further.
A (Very) Short Primer from our Founder, Robert Beverly
Last summer, our dedicated team meticulously crafted a package aiming to fund and maintain a staggering 10,000 officer placements in 1,000 school districts across Texas. We fervently believe that the best individuals to safeguard children are their very own parents and community citizens who would eagerly seize the opportunity to protect their young ones. However, despite our noble intentions, our proposal seemed to fall on deaf ears, overshadowed by the attention-seeking actions of a couple of senators who cherry-picked elements from our plan and took credit for introducing a federal law protecting volunteers from civil liability.
Yet, amidst the political noise and the race to capitalize on the booming security industry, we want to emphasize one thing: our true bottom line is not to cash in on this bonanza. Our unwavering mission stems from a genuine place of care and dedication. Our goal is to provide you with precisely what you need and can afford, with no fluff or long-term locked-in contracts. In the tables and content that follow, you'll discover the essence of our commitment, the reality behind the school security programs in Texas, and why community involvement remains at the heart of our approach.
What is the School Officer Program?
In a nutshell, we have a plan to utilize citizen volunteers from your community as security in your schools. These aren't outsiders, these are your friends and neighbors - the parents of the very children we seek to protect. Our position as a licensed security training school and non-profit status make our solution unique in that these attributes create the perfect environment to provide the most value for the funding school have available.
What are the Individual Officer Costs?
Before we get into the costs, let's take a moment to acknowledge the bind school districts are in as a result of the funding source and amount. HB11 provides $10 per student for security. For some districts, that won't cover the cost of 1 security guard, let alone an SRO and that doesn't provide the legally required security for their multiple campuses. This is why we are so excited to present the School Officer Program to you. This solution not only meets the requirements but might actually leave some money on the table if thoughtfully implemented.
Estimated Individual Officer Costs - 2-Year Commitment
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Level III Commissioned Officer Training |
$200 (Class) $85 (State Fee) $10 (Fingerprints) |
| Level IV Personal Protection Officer Training |
$100 (Class) $85 (State Fee) |
| MMPI Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory |
$250 (one-time, varies by psychologist) |
| Legal Services | 2-years $300 |
| Liability Insurance | 2-years $200 |
| Total | $1,230 |
We chose to show the table as a 2-year individual cost because that is the term of the license renewal. A 5-year budget is included from the prospectus we provided to various state representatives.
Comparison to Other Options
Median wage for a paid private security officer is $33,338. Over 2 years, a paid security officer will cost $65,446 more than 2-years of a volunteer.
Median wage for an SRO is $59,077. Over 2-years, a School Resource Officer will cost $116,924 more than than a volunteer.
The School Officer Program is, by far, the most cost-effective option.
How Does it Differ From Police?
| Police Officer | Security Officer | |
|---|---|---|
| Legal Authority | Occupations Code 1701 | Occupations Code 1702 |
| Status | Paid | Volunteer |
| Purpose | To provide students and faculty with a secure environment, identify and neutralize threats, secure campus, and ensure safety protocols are followed. | Same |
| Training | Approved TCOLE Law Enforcement Academy | Texas DPS - Private Security Division Commissioned Security Officer - License Level III Personal Protection Officer - License Level IV |
| Authority | Licensed police have authority within their sworn jurisdictions. | Licensed security officers may utilize their license(s) anywhere within the borders of Texas. |
| Enforcement | Arrest power within their sworn jurisdiction. | Detainment power anywhere in the state while on duty. Arrest power in the presence of a person committing a felony (citizens arrest). |
| Liability | Responsibility of the city/school while the officer is on duty. Off-duty, no coverage. | Limited to no liability to the city/school with this model as the security guard company must carry liability insurance on its officers. "Legal Services" in the individual pricing above refers to insurance products like US Law Shield. |
| Additional Provisions | The Federal Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 protects individuals volunteering for non-profit or government entities. |
TXDF Presented This Program to the State in 2022
Ironically, one of the offices we presented our proposal to was that of Texas State Representative Tony Tinderholt. Shannon Kidd, a district manager for Tinderholt's office, came to TXDF headquarters for a presentation of the program on March 14th, 2023. Just over a month later, on April 24th, Rep. Tinderholt proposed the now controversial Amendments 4 and 17 to HB3 which made private security an option for school districts. Why was it controversial? As an officer of a private security company, the amendment proposed (and adopted) by Tony Tinderholt is seen unfavorably by many.
Our original proposal, also provided to Ted Cruz and AG Commissioner Sid Miller, intended to station 10,000 officers in 1000 school districts throughout the state. The numbers differ slightly from what is listed above, this is more of a historical record/disclosure to show that TXDF has been pioneering this private security in schools idea for quite a long time. Unfortunately for us, Ted Cruz isn't in a position to directly affect change in the state and Sid Miller only has control over school cafeterias.
5-Year Program Cost Projections for 10,000 Officers - $45 Million
Keep in mind, although these numbers look big - this proposal would have covered 10,000 officers serving every school in the state. $45 million is statewide coverage. This is no longer an option, as the legislature has put the burden on individual school districts.
| 2023 - 1000 | 2024 - 2000 | 2025 - 3000 | 2026 - 3000 | 2027 - 2000 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TXDF Class/Licensing | |||||
| Level III/IV Class | $300,000 | $600,000 | $900,000 | $900,000 | $600,000 |
| Level III/IV State Fees | $180,000 | $360,000 | $540,000 | $540,000 | $360,000 |
| MMPI | $200,000 | $400,000 | $600,000 | $600,000 | $400,000 |
| US Law Shield | $150,000 | $300,000 | $450,000 | $450,000 | $300,000 |
| Attrition | $50,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $400,000 | |
| Uniform/Equipment | $1,000,000 | $2,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $3,000,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Overhead | $700,000 | $1,400,000 | $2,100,000 | $2,100,000 | $1,400,000 |
| Total Annual Officer Cost | $2,530,000 | $5,110,000 | $7,740,000 | $7,740,000 | $5,460,000 |
| TXDF Operating Costs | |||||
| Communications | $800,000 | $1,600,000 | $2,400,000 | $2,400,000 | $1,600,000 |
| Advertising | $100,000 | $100,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Training/Facilities | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $200,000 | $300,000 |
| Management/Instructors | $800,000 | $1,200,000 | $1,400,000 | $1,400,000 | $2,000,000 |
| Total TXDF Costs | $1,900,000 | $3,100,000 | $4,030,000 | $4,030,000 | $3,930,000 |
Texas Defense Force Security - Texans Protecting Texas
This isn't just our motto, it is also our ultimate goal.
