Editor’s note: The above video is from Jan. 30 after Manor ISD announced it would no longer be monitored by the Texas Education Agency.
MANOR, Texas (KXAN) — Students who attend the Manor Independent School District have already seen one of the biggest changes for the school year — new weapon detection systems they must pass through to enter campus.
That move comes after a deadly stabbing last Fall, where one student was charged with stabbing another student on campus. The 18-year-old reportedly used a kitchen knife in the attack.
Safety improvements made to campuses
“We had a safety audit, a couple of them actually, and there are 43 recommendations for safety improvements we began last year,” Superintendent Dr. Robert Sormani said. “Some of them take a little bit longer, and some take a little bit more money, but we have continued all summer long and continue to implement those safety improvements.”
One of the biggest and most visible changes is the addition of a weapons detection system, according to Sormani.
That new system caused a few days of delays for students trying to get into school when it began on Aug. 12. The district said at the time it was working through to get students to class on time.
“[The system] is fairly unobtrusive,” Sormani explained. “It’s one being used by the NBA as well. It allows kids to pass through and staff can be watching to make sure that nothing gets into the school that’s not wanted.”
However, Sormani added that nothing is foolproof.
“The best thing we can do is to continue to ask our kids to be the great kids they are and if they see something, to say something,” he said.
Building on the future
Sormani said the district continues to expand its Fine Arts program, which was recently named a Texas Educational Theatre Association Outstanding District of Distinction for 2025. Manor ISD is one of only 36 districts in the state to receive the honor.
“We’ve had five former [high school] players drafted into the professional leagues in the last three years alone, so watching our academics grow, and of course academics,” Sormani said.
“We hope to continue to expand and have opportunities for more students. We’re really excited to see what our kids can do and what kind of legacy they can grow,” he added.
This is the first full school year since the district is no longer under oversight by the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The district had previously been under TEA monitoring for six years.