SAN ANTONIO — As Silas Bryant took a stroll to his school, Briscoe Elementary, he had a briefcase in his left hand and his mother walking alongside him. 


What You Need To Know

  • Silas Bryant has a vision to protect his fellow students at Briscoe Elementary 

  • His safety plans include moving the playground to a shaded area and higher fences

  • The safety plans were sparked after the school shooting not far from the elementary

  • The school's principal says she fully supports his plan

In this briefcase were plans that Silas says could help protect his fellow students. Briscoe is south of downtown San Antonio, near an arts district. 

Silas was greeted by principal Jennifer Emerson and his former teacher, Mireya Fuentes, whose helped him a great deal. 

So he wants to pay it forward. 

“You feel like you are never alone, but when you don’t have that, when you feel alone, it ain’t the best,” Silas said. 

He says it’s because of that support system that he feels confident to present this safety plan in this briefcase that was sparked by tragedy. 

“There was a shooting a 100 miles away from here and that made me feel like we were just in the open,” Silas said. 

He’s crafted multiple drafts of plans that include moving the playground to a shaded area and higher fences. 

“This is the latest one,” he said, pointing to one of his blueprints. 

Emmerson says she has an open line of communication with the parents and students who are concerned about safety and added she fully supported Silas’ plans. 

She gave him a hug before she had to leave for a meeting. 

“I’m so very proud of you, rock it,” Emmerson says. 

Silas showed Spectrum News 1 outside the school to show his vision. 

He pointed to the asphalt near the playground. 

“Well, that’s what you would slip on if you were running,” Silas said. 

Then pointed to the black fence that wraps around the school. 

“You leave a middle chunk of it, a really big one so people don’t try and ram in from over there,” Silas said. “Then make a circle driveway. It’s a gift for my mom because she keeps complaining for years.” 

Keep in mind, Silas has dyslexia, but credits Fuentes for instilling confidence in him. 

“She’s been there for me whenever I needed her and she’s always helped me whenever I needed it,” Silas said. 

Fuentes says the school does everything to keep the children safe, which is their priority. 

“When we come into this classroom, these kids become our No. 1 priority,” Fuentes said. “When things like this happen, we all get together and put our heads together and try to come up with better plans.” 

Silas has plenty of ideas, including a community garden. 

“How do you think the garden would help others?” Fuentes asked Silas. 

He replied immediately. 

“It really wouldn’t help us, but it would help the ecosystem,” Silas says. 

He says one of his main priorities is that fence.

“It would also be important because no one can see us from the roads, you can’t see something, you can’t shoot at it,” Silas says. 

His mother, Honey, hopes that city officials can review his plans. She also added that he wanted to be homeschooled, so Spectrum News 1 asked him what changed?

“Because I would only be helping myself if I left. I think it’s a better thing to help everyone,” Silas says.