Trustees for the San Marcos Consolidated Independent School District (SMCISD) approved a school marshal program on Monday, per a report from Austin NBC affiliate KXAN. 

The Hill Country public school district’s leaders were met with opposition from several parents and community members, the station reported.

Under the umbrella of the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCLE), the school marshal program allows for armed employees on campus, which was what prompted many to speak out against SMCISD’s proposal, KXAN reported. 

“We can do better than just more guns,” an unidentified parent said, according to the station. 

To qualify for the program, a person must possess a valid license to carry, pass a psychological exam and successfully undergo the 80-hour school marshal training.

School board president Clementine Cantu assured the public teachers wouldn’t be armed, per KXAN.

“Thinking about retired law officers or retired military that they could come and be the marshals,” Cantu said in the report.

She added that a survey revealed that a majority of the district’s parents backed the plan.

“They thought it was a good idea, because you have a first responder in the school, that would be able to address it in minutes, as opposed to waiting for somebody to get there,” Cantu said. 

KXAN reported that Cantu said SMCISD elementary schools, which don’t have school resource officers, will have marshals on duty. 

According to the report, one major supporter of the program is San Marcos Chief of Police Stan Standridge. 

School safety has been one of the topics of discussion in the ongoing 88th legislative session in Austin. 

Citing The Texas Tribune, Austin ABC affiliate KVUE reported that the Texas House of Representatives preliminarily approved a bill that would require school districts to deploy an armed person on campus and submit their campuses to safety inspections. 

As of press time, House Bill (HB) 3 was slated for a final vote before advancing to the upper chamber.