SUNRISE, FLA. (WSVN) - The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission held a meeting for the second consecutive day discussing security concerns for charter schools in the county, but this time Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie showed up to clear the air.
On Thursday morning, commissioners gathered at the BB&T Center in Sunrise to listen to Runcie and ask him questions concerning the 29 charter schools in Broward County that may lose their state-required armed security guards by Friday.
Runcie disagreed with the claim and said the number of charter schools not in compliance is much lower.
7News has confirmed that Championship Academy of Distinction in Davie did not have an armed security guard on campus, which is a violation of state law.
MSD Commissioner and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd mentioned that he could call Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony to have an armed guard at the school.
“I bet I can make a phone call to Sheriff Tony, and he would have someone there this afternoon,” Judd said.
Runcie is working with the school board to take steps into closing the school down.
“In fact, we sent one letter informing a charter school that they’re not in compliance, and that we will move to revoke their charter because of not having a safe school officer on site yesterday,” said Runcie. “I do not have the authority to revoke a charter because a school does not have a long-term sustainable plan.”
MSD Commissioner Ryan Petty agreed with the motion to revoke the charter.
“If we’ve learned anything from February 14th, it’s that we should err on the side of caution,” Petty said, “and I think that you … sending a strong message, and I think it would just take one, just revoking the charter from one school … I think that would send a strong message.”
Runcie did not publicly name the school, but he promised to begin the process to revoke the school’s charter early next week.
The commission also wanted an update on the investigation into the previous MSD administration who missed warning signs about the shooter and did not practice Code Red procedures.
MSD Commission Chair and Pinellas Country Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said, “Who’s responsible for the fact that in the one year preceding February 14 that there was no drill — not a single drill — done at Stoneman Douglas?”
Runcie said a report on the investigation is expected in the fall.
He also said the district is spending more than $50 million on security at school across the county, and parents will see the difference when they drop off their children at school.
Runcie closed with a letter from a mother who said she’s already noticed changes.
“It is the first time I have felt that peace in a long time, so thank you for that,” Runcie said. “There’s no price tag for the peace in a mother’s heart. Our goal is to make sure that every parent feels that way.”
Commission members also asked the superintendent to follow up with the other 28 charter schools to clarify what their long-term plan is moving forward and if they will have a guardian, officer or deputy on campus daily.
The school board said they will follow up with those other charter schools at their meeting next week.
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