CFBISD security elevates safety standards with more than 100 hours of specialized training

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The Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District's Safety and Security Department is stepping into the new school year with a continued commitment to campus safety, following a summer spent building on its extensive training programs to prepare for students’ return to school.

Building on the district's dedication to safety, CFBISD’s armed security teams completed more than 100 hours of specialized training per officer over the summer break, focusing on rapid coordination, emergency response and student safety across every campus.

The summer curriculum covered defensive tactics, safety protocols and firearms proficiency, alongside Level 1 Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT). Beyond campus safety measures, officers also updated their medical certifications, completing coursework in CPR, AED usage, "Stop the Bleed" response and emergency fentanyl overdose prevention.

"Our mission is simple: protect the people, protect the learning and protect the future," said Rachael Freeman, CFBISD executive director of safety and security.

CFBISD partnered with security training firm Cinco Peso for specialized active-threat recognition and tactical response. Local partners—including the Carrollton, Coppell and Farmers Branch Police Departments—hosted the ALERRT courses. While ALERRT was historically restricted to active or retired law enforcement, expanded access this year allowed CFBISD security teams to train directly alongside sworn officers.

The ongoing training program represents a key part of the district's proactive safety model. As a result of Texas House Bill 3 (HB 3), every school district in the state is required to have an armed security officer or law enforcement officer present at every campus. Recognizing the immediate need to equip and train personnel for active threat recognition and response under the state legislation, CFBISD expanded and enhanced its training standards across all schools.

"The Texas Department of Public Safety holds the commissions for security officers across the state, but the training requirements for our staff are very different from law enforcement," Freeman said. "My primary focus was to ensure that each of our security personnel went through a standardized curriculum with standards very similar to law enforcement. We want to go above and beyond to ensure our students and staff receive the best protection."

Beyond technical expertise, many members of the security team share a deeply personal connection to the schools they serve. Several SROs and security specialists are CFBISD alumni who grew up walking the exact same hallways they now protect. For Freeman, a local graduate herself, leading this department brings her career full circle in the community that raised her.

"I became a police officer as a result of my strong mentorship with my school resource officer at Newman Smith High School," Freeman said. "In my career, I have had the opportunity to do the same and mentor other youth to select law enforcement as their choice of career."

_{Local News Matters.}