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Welding sparks fly in Silsbee
Silsbee Senior Jason Jones was one of many students looking to earn his industry based certification as a proud member of Silsbee's welding program.
Dylan Busby | The Silsbee Bee
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE – Silsbee High School hosted a Regional Welding Competition on March 6, drawing students from across Texas to showcase their skills and pursue industry credentials. More than 375 students representing about 30 schools participated in the event, which filled the school’s welding facilities throughout the day. While the competition was advertised with a 9 a.m. start time, Silsbee students began welding as early as 6:45 a.m. to accommodate the large number of participants. In addition to competing for top honors, many students worked toward Industry Based Certifications (IBCs), credentials that allow graduates to move directly into the workforce after high school. Organizers also incorporated an underwater welding component, adding a unique challenge to the regional event. For many students, the competition reflects a pathway into high-demand careers. Silsbee High School senior Jason Jones said he entered the welding program with a clear goal in mind. “I like it,” Jones said. “The reason I did this is to graduate from LIT and because my dad made me do it.” Silsbee’s welding program has expanded significantly in recent years under instructor John McKeehan, who joined the district in 2018 after working in the trades, serving in the military for a decade, and earning a welding degree through Lamar Institute of Technology. “When I got here we only had eight machines and no booths,” McKeehan said. Today, the program operates out of a new welding facility with 30 welding machines and 30 booths, along with a modern ventilation system designed for student safety. The updated shop also doubles the square footage of the previous facility. “It has just exploded,” McKeehan said of the program’s growth. McKeehan said enrollment has steadily increased as more students recognize the value of skilled trade careers. Many Silsbee welding students graduate with certifications that allow them to earn more than $20 per hour immediately after high school. Through the district’s partnership with Lamar Institute of Technology, some students also qualify to participate in the college’s graduation ceremony while still in high school. School officials said hosting the regional competition highlights the strength of Silsbee’s Career and Technical Education programs and the increasing demand for skilled welders across Texas and the nation.
SISD implements district-wide CrisisAlert
Dylan Busby dylan@silsbee-bee.com The Silsbee Bee SILSBEE — Silsbee Independent School District has launched a new districtwide safety system designed to enhance emergency response across campuses and athletic facilities, district officials announced. The system, powered by the CENTEGIX CrisisAlert™ Safety Platform, introduces wearable staff badges, a color-coded alert system and expanded communication tools to improve response times and coordination during emergencies. The rollout comes as part of increased statewide emphasis on campus safety, including compliance with Alyssa’s Law, which requires silent panic alert systems in schools. “With the state going as they are, they are pushing for more security,” Superintend Dr. Gregg Weiss The badges serve as the core of the system, allowing staff to activate two types of alerts. The “I need help” function notifies campus response teams of situations such as medical emergencies, student altercations or nearby crime, without triggering a campuswide alert. A separate lockdown function is reserved strictly for weapon-related threats and immediately notifies law enforcement. “It goes directly to our administrators,” Wiess said. “We’ll still be running with a walkie-talkie, but now we’ll know right where we are going to.” When activated, badges communicate with strobe lights and outdoor locating beacons, enabling response teams to pinpoint the exact location of an incident, even extending to the property line. Alerts also appear on staff computers and the Catapult app, which allows teachers to account for students and receive real-time updates. The system includes redundancies to remain operational during power outages and tracks staff movement during active alerts to assist responders. Color-coded alerts, posted throughout campuses, indicate specific actions: red for lockdown, green for evacuation, blue for lockout, purple for hold and orange for shelter. Training is ongoing, with the district entering its second phase in partnership with Five Stones Safety, represented by Lainey Nakhleh. Nakhleh emphasized proper badge use to prevent accidental activation. “This is the quickest way to get your campus swatted if your badge gets in the wrong hands,” she said. Alerts are integrated with intercom systems, and response teams can also initiate notifications via mobile devices.
