News Reader

DeSoto High School was placed on lockdown Thursday after a non-district student brought a firearm on campus, according to the district.

Security personnel at the school were able to detain the suspect promptly because students were utilizing the “See Something, Say Something” initiative.

Campus security and administrators were able to find the concealed weapon as the suspect was allegedly fighting with another student.

“While district security personnel were able to quickly de-escalate a security matter and detain those involved, security personnel discovered a concealed weapon on the person of the non-district student involved,” an updated statement from DeSoto ISD read.

It is not yet clear how the suspect was able to bring the weapon into the school.

Already this year, there have been multiple shooting incidents at North Texas area schools that have left multiple people injured and at least one person deceased.

Dallas Independent School District’s Roosevelt High School was the subject of a shooting after two high school football players were injured in an apparent drive-by shooting.

The incident occurred while the students were riding home from practice with their coach.

Classes were canceled the following day “due to a credible threat.”

Wilmer Hutchins High School was placed on lockdown on April 12 after a 17-year-old suspect shot and injured another student after bringing a gun on campus.

District officials cited “human error” in how the firearm was able to be allowed on campus.

In Arlington at Bowie High School towards the end of April, police arrested 17-year-old Julian Howard and charged him with one count of murder in the death of 18-year-old Etavion Barnes.  

In response to the incident, the district is enhancing security measures for the remainder of the school year.

Increased Security

• No backpacks are allowed on campus for all secondary students starting May 13 through the end of the school year.
• Heightened security presence including increased rotation throughout the building
• DeSoto PD will increase patrol for dismissal.

Uniforms are a safety measure and help ID intruders

• All scholars are required to be in full uniform through the last day of school.
• Students who are not in uniform will be placed in a holding area and asked to contact a parent to bring a change of clothing.
• Students who are unable to obtain uniforms will be placed in ISS for the remainder of the school day

Student Work Release

• High school students on early work release will be asked to sign out of the main office entry at door one

Additional Staff and Volunteer Support

• Additional staff will push in at the high school during lunch and other times of high traffic to assist with monitoring.
• For parents and community members interested in supporting the close of a safe school year, please register to volunteer via the district’s Voly platform at Read more

Date and Time: May 09, 2024 6:00PM- 8:00PM (CST)
Category: DeSoto ISD
Location: DHS Multipupose Center 600 Eagle Drive

Families are invited to participate in a districtwide event full of active and interactive sessions to promote wellness.

On Thursday, DeSoto High School was placed on lockdown amid safety concerns following an incident involving multiple students and a non-district student, according to a statement released by the district.

The incident unfolded as a one-on-one altercation occurred on the school’s premises.

Security staff at the high school intervened and caught sight of a non-district student on school property.

Reacting in accordance with safety protocols, the campus was swiftly placed on lockdown, according to the district.

The school resource officers (SROs) and district security personnel searched the campus and located and detained all individuals involved in the altercation, including the non-district student.

After the students who were involved in the incident were detained, the school moved into a lockout.

The district said there will be extra security on the campus for the foreseeable future.

“Heightened security presence will be maintained throughout the remainder of the day and the duration of the academic year including campus at entry points around the building to prevent future recurrence of this matter, a statement alert by the district read.

“Safety is a collaborative, community effort. Thank you to our students who observed the concern and reported it to the staff for quick and immediate resolution. As a result, all students remained safe. Because of this, district safety protocols were quickly enacted significantly reducing any safety risks to students or staff,” the statement continued.

If you believe someone may pose a threat to themselves or others to an administrator, teacher, or security staff member, you can file a report anonymously.

Alternatively, you can also submit the information via email to report@stayalert.info or call or text +1.206.406.6485.

The post DeSoto High School Placed on Lockdown appeared first on The DeSoto Tribune.

Date and Time: May 09, 2024 9:00AM- 2:00PM (CST)
Category: DeSoto ISD
Location: DHS

Contact the Special Education Department for more information.

In a unique way of artistry and community service, members of the City of DeSoto Artist Lab (DAL) Residency Program gathered at the Joe Brown DeSoto Fire Training Center to undergo crucial lifesaving training.

The artists underwent the training with a shared commitment to enhancing their skills beyond the canvas.

Over the course of several hours, the artist immersed themselves in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) operation.

Vital techniques that could potentially save lives within their community.

“When our artists exhibit in our City of DeSoto facilities, they engage many visitors who stop to look at their work and ask questions about the individual pieces,” said Rolanda Brigham, Arts, Culture and Heritage Manager for the City of DeSoto.

“Since the artists are often right there as the visitors filter by, we thought it would be a smart idea to require them to be certified in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED) use just in case a life-threatening emergency were to happen on their watch.”

The training is mandatory and is the second year that the DAL has received the certification.

Five members of DeSoto’s Artists Lab received the training on Saturday, May 4, at the newly renamed Joe Brown DeSoto Fire Training Center on Wintergreen Road.

“Knowing how to save someone’s life is one of the most important abilities there is, and we applaud the members of the DeSoto Artist Lab who came out Saturday to learn these critical life-saving skills,” said DeSoto Fire Chief Bryan Southard.

“This might sound like an ‘abstract’ concept to some, but training our artists and any other dedicated community member to save lives in an emergency makes DeSoto both safer and stronger.”

The post DeSoto Artists Merge Artistry with Lifesav