Many schools in the area also use hand-held metal detectors to randomly check students for weapons. Backpacks, too, are getting more scrutiny because they can be used to hide weapons. Some schools have completely banned them, some require students to leave them in their lockers and others permit only backpacks made of clear plastic or see-through netting. Parent patrols have been organized at numerous schools. Houston's Madison High School, the scene of a fatal shooting in 1991, was one of the first.
Parents carrying walkie-talkies now patrol the grounds before and after class.
Weber at UH chaired a task force last year that recommended ways HISD can make its schools safer. It's a matter of whether or not a school district wants to invest in doing those things. Many districts now have alternative schools that specialize in dealing with students who cause trouble in their home schools. But for parents who simply want to know whether their children's schools are safe, experts recommend visiting the school, inquiring about safety policies and security measures, and checking with local law enforcement agencies. Even more effectively, they say, parents can volunteer for programs within the school and draw their own conclusions.