• Behavioral Threat Assessment & Management

  • We know how important it is to handle safety concerns quickly and completely to keep everyone safe. As educators who look after our students, we take safety seriously.

    The student Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management process at Gonzales ISD is made to keep everyone safe and supported. We have systems that help us identify and assess concerning behaviors so we can intervene to help de-escalate them.  We follow the rules set by Texas Senate Bill 11 which were put in place to help stop violence.

    In schools from Pre-K to 12th grade, we use behavior threat assessments to find and deal with concerning behaviors before they become big problems. It's a way to stop violence and make sure everyone feels safe at school. Gonzales ISD's system is all about gathering information step by step and giving support when needed. It's not about punishment; it's about making sure everyone in the school feels safe and cared for.

    Campus Behavioral Threat Assessment Team 

    Each Gonzales ISD campus has a threat assessment team, as part of the Safe and Supportive Schools Program established by the 86th Texas Legislature in Senate Bill 11. These teams address harmful, threatening, or violent behavior such as:

    • verbal threats
    • threats of self-harm
    • bullying, cyberbullying
    • fighting
    • use or possession of a weapon
    • sexual assault
    • sexual harassment
    • dating violence
    • stalking
    • assault

    Behavioral Threat Assessment and Management Steps

    Trained staff members work collaboratively to address possible threats by:

    • identifying persons or situations that raise concern, when the person is having thoughts, or is planning, or preparing for an attack
    • assessing the risk level by gathering and evaluating additional information about that person or situation
    • implementing a plan to manage or reduce that risk if that person is believed to pose a threat to themselves or others
    • documenting actions and sharing information as necessary

    Procedures

    1. Identifying individuals, based on referrals, tips, or observations, whose behavior has raised concerns due to threats of violence or exhibition of behavior that is harmful, threatening, or violent.
    2. Conducting an individualized assessment based on reasonably available information to determine whether the individual poses a threat of violence or poses a risk of harm to self or others and the level of risk.
    3. Implementing appropriate intervention and monitoring strategies, if the team determines an individual poses a threat of harm to self or others. These strategies may include referral of a student for a mental health assessment and escalation procedures as appropriate.

    For a student or other individual the team determines poses a serious risk of violence to self or others, the team shall immediately report to the Superintendent, who shall immediately attempt to contact the student's parent or guardian. Additionally, the Superintendent shall coordinate with law enforcement authorities as necessary and take other appropriate action in accordance with the District's multihazard emergency operations plan.

    For a student the team identifies as at risk of suicide, the team shall follow the District's suicide prevention program.

    For a student the team identifies as having a substance abuse issue, the team shall follow the District's substance abuse program.

    For a student whose conduct may constitute a violation of the District's Student Code of Conduct, the team shall make a referral to the campus behavior coordinator or other appropriate administrator to consider disciplinary action.

    As appropriate, the team may refer a student:

    1. To a local mental health authority or health-care provider for evaluation or treatment; or
    2. For a full individualized and initial evaluation for special education services.

    The team shall not provide any mental health-care services, except as permitted by law.

  • Report a Safety Concern Anonymous Reporting