DAVIE, FLA. (WSVN) - Championship Academy, the last of the 29 charter schools in Broward County that didn’t have an armed security guard on campus after the 2019-20 school year began, per state law, has now acquired one.
7News cameras captured the guard on the campus, located 3367 N University Drive, in Davie, as children arrived to start their day, Friday morning.
Todd Dupell, principal of Championship Academy, said there was a guard on campus on the first day of classes, Wednesday, but because he wasn’t a police officer or a deputy and had not been trained yet, the school was not in compliance.
“In no time were students in jeopardy. I did have a security guard here on campus, and I feel good about the fact they we’re moving forward with the training for our security guard,” he said.
Dupell said he had been at Championship Academy for three months when he was trying to work out the issue of having a guard in place all summer long. He said there’s a long-term plan in place to keep the school in compliance.
“We know there were 29 other schools, I believe, that were noncompliant, and I have documentation that, since I’ve been here, emails back and forth that I’ve done everything here in good faith to make sure we were compliant with the requirements of the safe schools measure, and that our officer will get trained at the next available training through [the Broward Sheriff’s Office],” he said.
Championship Academy now has a contract with Davie Police while they work to finalize their guard’s training, which is set to take place sometime next month.
But district officials nevertheless pointed out the charter school was in violation of state law on Wednesday.
Speaking before the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission on Thursday, Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said Championship Academy could lose its license.
“We sent one letter informing a charter school that they are not in compliance and that we will move to revoke its charter,” he said.
The news left parents of students at Championship Academy feeling concerned.
“Obviously we want to make sure our kids are safe when they go to school, so yeah, I mean, it’s a little concerning,” said a mother.
“What’s the plan? Are they closing next week? I need to know about my daughter, you know, if I need to put her in a different school,” said another mother. “I need to inquire about that. That’s exactly why I’m here.”
In an email sent to 7News, a spokesperson for the school district wrote, “The superintendent will bring a recommendation regarding the closure of the charter school on Tuesday, August 20 to the school board.”
A district meeting to discuss the matter has been scheduled for next week. At least one representative from Championship Academy is expected to bring documentation showing that the school currently has a sustainable long-term security plan.
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