Richardson ISD Changes Calendar to Student Holiday on Election Day, Cites Security Concerns

Richardson ISD announced Thursday that security concerns have motivated a calendar change this year — one that so far other local districts have not adopted.

It’s not unusual for schools to serve as polling locations on Election Day. But RISD officials said that security risks associated with the practice have led them to make Nov. 6 a student holiday and staff development day.

“The change is being made as a precaution due to the thousands of unregistered visitors who gain access to RISD schools serving as voting locations on Election Day,” the district said in an announcement. “Because staff members and some daytime care students will still be in schools on Nov. 6, RISD will continue to take additional safety precautions to isolate voting areas from the rest of the campus and monitor visitors.”

Texas law requires that all polling locations be in public places that are owned or controlled by a state or political subdivision (like a school). “While there is no mandate to use a school building to conduct an election, school facilities are often selected as the place to hold all or part of an election because the facilities are often centrally located within the community and they already comply with accessibility requirements,” the Texas Association of School Boards explained.

The organization also outlines steps districts should take to secure their schools serving as polling locations, including:

Provide local law enforcement or school-based law enforcement officers with a list of polling places on school property and request additional close patrol assistance to increase police presence and response capability.

Assign teams to check the campus grounds before the start of classes on the morning of the election, watch for anything suspicious, and report concerns immediately.

Maintain a heightened awareness for suspicious activity and report these activities immediately.

Ensure a staff member is on site from poll opening until poll closure. This should be someone whose primary responsibility is maintaining school safety rather than someone with other evening duties, such as a custodian.

Make poll workers aware that they may not grant anyone access to areas of campus beyond the voting site; this includes restrooms and side exits.

Remind faculty and staff to wear their official school identification and ensure that regular campus visitors wear their visitor management badges. Make sure that each polling place worker and volunteer wears proper county identification.

The Bipartisan Policy Center, in a report regarding using schools as polling places, said that while schools logistically make good voting locations, school officials and parents often aren’t as jazzed about the idea.

“School officials and teachers advocates, however, are not as enthusiastic about allowing election officials to use their facilities,” wrote Matthew Weil, who authored the report. “They cite real security concerns about allowing unverified individuals into a building during school hours. Election Day can be a chaotic experience that disrupts a school’s normal operation.”

“For example, campaigns are generally allowed to have observers in a polling place and campaign volunteers outside the entrance. Moreover, lines of voters can snake through hallways during high turnout elections.”

Weil said that the BPC recommends making the day an in-service day. “The in-service day for teachers on Election Day preserves schools as polling places while mitigating security concerns,” he said. “The problem is not intractable if school officials and election officials can work together to serve their shared constituents.”

In February, we asked Dallas ISD officials what would be done to secure schools during primary voting after several parents approached CandysDirt.com with concerns post-Parkland. At that time, we were told that the district would be increasing police presence at those schools, and coordinating with the county to shore up security as well.

We reached out to Dallas ISD News and Information Director Robyn Harris about any potential that Dallas would also adopt RISD’s strategy.

“This is not something that I’m aware we are discussing consideration on,” she said. “I imagine we would continue to hold classes as we normally do, just as we have done on previous election days.”

In fact, so far no other school districts in North Texas are following in RISD’s footsteps, although several parents we spoke to wished they would.

“That is a fantastic idea,” Dallas ISD parent Tracy McElhenie said. “The kids don’t need to be there when so many are coming in and out. I’m all for it.”

Andrea Perkins, whose child attends a Dallas ISD school, said she has mixed feelings about the concept. “I saw comments on one thread from folks saying they fear lower voter turnout since many people go vote when dropping off or picking up their kids at school,” she said.

“As for me (DISD elementary school parent), I’d love for kids to be off on Election Day since I’m not thrilled with how permeable our campus is when voting is taking place at the school,” she added. “If our school had better security, or the voting area could be locked down from the rest of the school, I wouldn’t really care as much.”

“But then, if we were to have the day off, I’m lucky (as a stay at home parent) in that I don’t need to contend with finding childcare for the day or losing money having to take a day off from work,” Perkins continued. “Not all parents would be so fortunate.”

Kara Tolany, whose children attend Frisco ISD schools, said she hopes her district takes the in-service route. “I’m not a fan of people coming in the school,” she said.

“I was in Plano and our building had been a polling place for DECADES,” said Rebecca Schiffer. “After Sandy Hook, we moved it to a classroom near the front of the school with a direct door to the outside that we unlocked for the day. Unfortunately, we couldn’t lock the classroom door to the rest of the building from the inside.”

Schiffer said 2014 was the last election year she worked there, and “voting was moved entirely out of our building and to admin (in the same neighborhood) only,” she said. “We appreciated it, but I had morning parking lot duty that day and got yelled at by quite a few residents that it had moved, they had ignored the signs, and that I wouldn’t let them in the building to ask to make sure I (and the large signs) were right.”

Still more parents said that if Election Day was a national holiday (as it is in other countries) the point would be moot.

“I think the way to solve that problem is to make it a national holiday,” said Millie Domenech. “Honestly, with early voting, the number of people voting on actual Election Day is probably not that high.”

“The other idea that I believe Dallas County is thinking about is having voting centers rather than having voting based on your precinct.”

Anne Fitzgerald said her children go to McKinney ISD, and she wishes her district would consider the idea. “I believe Election Day should be a national holiday,” she added.

Cooper Koch said that he thought the proposal might actually improve voter turnout. “I like that it forces at least one parent to not work so that he/she can potentially vote,” he said.

“I’m torn on this because I like the idea of students seeing the election process in action, but I definitely have safety concerns and keeping students safe is the most important thing,” said Robin Schaub. “I agree with making Election Day a national holiday. That would reinforce its importance not only to school-age kids who get to celebrate it as a day off, but also make it easier for working-class voters to get to the polls.

“It’s way too easy to say ‘I didn’t have time to vote.'”

Colleen Mayerhoff, whose children attend Dallas ISD schools, said she fully agrees with the idea of a national holiday. “That would really teach kids the importance of voting and they could go with their parents to see the progress,” she said.  “As is, I do worry about security with having schools as a voting location while kids are attending … how do we make sure they are safe and secure? I like what RISD is doing.”

“Election Day should be a national holiday! If that were the case, everyone could find time to vote and we wouldn’t even need this discussion,” said Jennifer Triptow, who said that while she doesn’t have kids, she can see the security concerns.

“I think given the political climate and our country’s inability to do anything to prevent mass shootings, voting either needs to move out of schools or school needs to be let out on Election Day,” Leia Grady said. “I think it’s wise what RISD is doing.”

“But, being where we are today, I agree wholeheartedly with Leia Grady,” Triptow agreed. “I do not have kids, but I am fond of my neighbor’s children and I would not want to see anything happen to them because we let the public into their safe space.”

“I think that’s a great idea,” said Amanda Graham, whose child will eventually attend Frisco ISD. “Parents have enough to worry about with school safety these days.”