Circumstances may occur at the school that require parents to pick up their students in a formalized, controlled release. This process is called a Reunification and may be necessary due to weather, a power outage, hazmat or if a crisis occurs at the school. The Standard Reunification Method is a protocol that makes this process more predictable and less chaotic for all involved.

• Reunification Card-Parent Handout

Good mental health is critical to children’s success in school and life. Mental health is not simply the absence of mental illness, but also encompasses social, emotional and behavioral health and the ability to cope with life’s challenges. Here are some resources to support mental health. Contact the school counselor for more information about this topic.

• Community/Counseling Resource List
• National Alliance on Mental Illness
• Suicide Prevention

In United ISD, we are proud of our schools and welcome visitors. In order to protect the security of our students and staff and the learning environment at our schools, visitors must adhere to the following guidelines.

• United ISD's Visitor Guidelines
• United ISD’s Visitor Guidelines – Spanish

United ISD and Laredo Crime Stoppers have developed the Campus Crime Stoppers Program in an initiative to make our schools a safer place to be. In addition to having the same number (956-727-TIPS) that Crime Stoppers has had for many years, anonymous tips and information can be sent through a downloadable cell phone app, P3 TIPS. Students, staff, and parents are encouraged to report any activity that could potentially put our students in danger. United ISD is committed to making safety in our schools a top priority.

• Campus Crime Stoppers Program

United ISD understands that the decision to close or delay the school starting time affects our families. It isn’t an easy decision for us and we carefully reflect on many factors when deciding. It is our preference to stay open, whenever possible, to minimize the impact on our families and our educational programs. Parental discretion will always be considered. Families are encouraged to develop a contingency plan with their child to prepare for possible school closure or early dismissal in an event of an emergency situation.

• United ISD Delay Start Time Schedules

The Cyber Safety and Digital Responsibility: A Parent’s Guide is a collaboration between the Texas School Safety Center and Safer Schools Together. We recognize that technology is constantly evolving and deeply intertwined in the daily lives of our youth. United ISD invites you to review this one and a half hour long training which details the positive and negative ways youth are using technology and social media. The information in this training will empower you to facilitate a proactive conversation with the youth in your life on how to safely use today’s technology.

United ISD invites you to review the resources on digital safety to establish an understanding of the cyber world students are growing up in.

• Texas Attorney General: Cyber Safety
• Texas Education Agency Internet Safety
• Google Digital Safety Resources
• Safer Schools Together
• Common Sense Education

Responding to an active threat event and knowing what to do are, unfortunately, skills which teachers and administrators need to practice and perfect. We know that school staff are most interested in being preventive and proactive, not just reactive. After an event occurs in a school, school staff, parents, and community members want to know how it could have been prevented. Behavioral threat assessment and management (oftentimes referred to as threat assessment) * provides an evidence-based approach toward identifying students or other individuals who pose a threat, intervening with appropriate resources, and ultimately improving the safety and well-being of the individual of concern, the situation, and the school. *The State of Texas has recognized behavioral threat assessment or threat assessment as the Safe and Supportive School Program.

• Texas State School Safety Center Toolkit
• Model Policies and Procedures to Establish and Train on Threat Assessment

Emergency planning is not only an important part of ensuring that a district can protect its students, faculty, staff, and community, but it is also legally required by state law. This toolkit introduces the laws, rules, and regulations that govern districts to adequately prepare for emergencies and the steps to develop a multi-hazard EOP.

• Multi-Hazard Emergency Operation Plan Template
• Legal Requirements and Guidelines

At United ISD we believe, safety is everyone's responsibility. If you would like to talk more about our safety and security procedures or have questions/concerns please feel free to contact the Safety and Crisis Response Unit.

• Mike Garza
  • Associate Superintendent for Administration
  • mgarza@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-7976

• Dolores Barrera
  • Executive Director for Safety/Student Services
  • dbarrera@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-1839

• Ruben R. Ayala
  • Safety and Crisis Response Manager
  • rubena@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-6401​

• Elvira Salinas
  • Behavior Threat Specialist
  • elviras@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-6109

• Emma Cavazos
  • Safety Officer
  • ecavazos1@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-6454

• Oscar Guerrero
  • Safety and Crisis Response Technician
  • oguerr17@uisd.net
  • (956) 473-6400