Dear Kaufman ISD Parents and Guardians,

By now, you may have heard about a significant safety incident that occurred Tuesday

afternoon, September 22, 2026, at O.P. Norman Junior High School involving a firearm. The

district continues to work with law enforcement as they investigate this matter. Because the

investigation involves a student, we must also protect student privacy, which limits the

details I can share.

What I can share is something I believe our families need to know. A student had the

courage to tell one of his teachers about a serious safety concern involving another student.

The two teachers in the class immediately took action and contacted campus administration

and Kaufman ISD Police. Within minutes, our police officers responded, secured the

firearm, and brought the situation under control without injury to any student or staff

member.

I want to recognize that the student's decision to speak up was critical. We often tell our

students, “See something, say something.” On this day, one student put those words into

action. That took courage, good judgment, and trust. We are deeply grateful that this

student spoke up when it mattered most.

I also want to thank the teachers, administrators, and KISD Police Officers for their calm,

swift response. Their actions helped protect our students and staff during a serious

situation.

We know that even when a situation ends safely, hearing about it can be frightening and

unsettling for students, staff, and families. We have also heard from families and community

members with questions and concerns about our response and how information was

communicated. We take those concerns seriously and have included them in our post-

incident review. As a learning organization, we will carefully examine what worked, what can

be strengthened, and how we can enhance our safety procedures and communication

outreach. Our responsibility is not simply to be thankful for a safe outcome, but to learn from

the experience and continuously improve.

I encourage our families to keep talking with their children about the importance of speaking

up when they see or hear something that is concerning. This incident reminded us that one

student’s voice can make a difference, but it also reminded us how important it is for adults

to listen and take concerns seriously.

We continue to commit to listen, respond, learn, and make our schools as safe as possible

for every student and staff member.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joshua Garcia

Superintendent of Schools, Kaufman ISD