Board Decision and Policy Background
Houston ISD’s appointed board members have denied a grievance from the Houston Federation of Teachers (HFT) challenging Superintendent Mike Miles’ mandate that teachers keep classroom doors open Safety Concerns during instruction. This policy, introduced by the state-appointed superintendent, replaced the district’s previous protocol requiring doors to be locked—a safety measure implemented after the Uvalde school shooting in May 2022.
During the board hearing, HFT argued for the reinstatement of the locked-door policy, citing safety concerns voiced by parents and teachers. They believe that closed and locked doors can better protect students and staff from potential intruders. Miles, however, defended the open-door policy, stating that it fosters a professional and collaborative atmosphere, allowing administrators to observe and coach teachers effectively. Exceptions to this policy are limited to especially noisy or unsafe environments or for students prone to leaving the classroom unsupervised.
Union’s Concerns and Policy Adjustments
The teachers union, which represents about 7,000 educators and non-administrative school staff, has consistently raised concerns over the open-door policy, particularly in the context of Texas’ gun laws. HFT President Jackie Anderson questioned the link between open doors and professionalism, noting that administrators can still access classrooms with keys for necessary observations. The union’s grievance, initially filed in late 2022, marked its first significant challenge to the superintendent’s policies.
In response to growing criticism, Superintendent Miles made some adjustments to the policy in September, allowing certain doors to remain closed due to fire safety concerns raised by the Houston Fire Department. Specifically, doors in older buildings without sprinkler systems were exempted to comply with fire safety regulations. Despite these changes, Lange, the union’s staff representative for the district’s northside, noted that the union remained dissatisfied, as the policy still varied across different schools, such as those with alternating A/B schedules and classrooms connected to breezeways.
Hearing Arguments and Security Context
During the hearing, HFT’s Wayne Lange highlighted the potential safety risks associated with the open-door policy, referencing several past school shootings in Santa Fe, Uvalde, and Georgia. He argued that teachers feel unsafe under the current policy and that open doors make it difficult to maintain security and focus on teaching, especially with administrators frequently entering classrooms for observations. Lange suggested that open doors also create an environment where teachers are held accountable for disturbances without receiving the necessary support, such as classroom aids for special education students.
Stephanie Hamm, representing the district, countered the union’s claims, asserting that the district had not violated any safety policies and that the superintendent was within his authority to enforce the open-door policy. She emphasized that while all exterior doors remain closed, no specific fire codes mandate the closure of interior classroom doors. Hamm addressed the emotional appeals made by the union regarding school shootings, clarifying that accountability measures are not intended to harass teachers.
The hearing took place amidst heightened security measures across HISD campuses due to unspecified threats to Texas public schools, although no direct threats to HISD were confirmed. Despite the union’s continued concerns, the board maintained its support for the superintendent’s open-door policy, reflecting a broader debate on balancing safety and administrative oversight in schools.
