School Marshals
Frisco ISD will launch a School Marshal Program in 2025-26 at elementary campuses as part of a multi-layered approach to safety and security. The new program will add trained, experienced former law enforcement officers in full-time security roles at elementary schools.
Frisco ISD employs Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Little Elm School Resource Officers at secondary schools, rotating to elementary campuses for regular checks.
Implementing a School Marshal Program will enable the District to provide elementary campuses with full-time safety personnel.
Adding marshals at elementary schools will not only enhance security on those campuses, but allow SROs to focus primarily on secondary campuses that serve as their home base.
Timeline
The School Marshal Program will be rolled out over the next two years, with a goal of full staffing by the end of 2026-27.
Training and Expectations
With the May 12 Board approval, Frisco ISD will immediately begin the hiring process for lead marshals, who will then assist in the hiring of campus marshals. The District will only hire experienced, highly trained former law enforcement officers as marshals, reinforcing a multi-layered approach to campus security.
Marshals’ sole role will be armed intervention. Their positions will be filled for the explicit purpose of school safety, separate from teachers or other instructional staff.
Qualifications for the marshal positions include:
Lead marshals - Experience in supervising, managing, or providing leadership to groups of commissioned peace officers. Commissioned peace officer experience (five years preferred). Honorably retired commissioned peace officer preferred.
Marshals - Commissioned peace officer experience (five years preferred). Honorably retired commissioned peace officer preferred.
School marshals must:
Complete an 80-hour training course, conducted on law enforcement training grounds. Topics covered in the School Marshal course include physical security, improving the security of the campus, use of force, active shooter response and weapon proficiency.
Complete 16 hours of marshal recertification training every two years.
Possess and maintain a Texas License to Carry.
Pass an L-3 psychological evaluation, which must be recertified every two years.
The school marshal program is licensed and regulated through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, which is the same agency that licenses and regulates all police officers in the state.