PARKLAND, FLA. (WSVN) - Broward County Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie faced tough questions at a forum on school security held hours after students and teachers at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School protested the removal and reassignment of three administrators and a security specialist.
Members from the Parkland community confronted Runcie and several security experts at the forum, which took place at Piper High School in Sunrise, Tuesday night.
“I don’t even know how you guys could have done what you did to our school today,” said a woman wearing a purple T-shirt with the hashtag “#NeverAgain” on the back.
The woman argued the removal and reassignment of Assistant Principals Winfred Porter Jr., Jeff Morford and Denise Reed, as well as security specialist Kelvin Greenleaf, was a step backward for a community that is still healing.
“You brought us back to where we were. We had worked for almost a year to try and heal, and it’s our family,” she said.
Stoneman Douglas teachers who attended the forum said they’re upset about the reassignments.
“Exactly when were they trained on how they could handle an active shooter?” said an MSD teacher. “I know the answer: They were not.”
“I want to know how we’re moving these staff members that these students have a bond with, that they feel safe speaking to,” said another MSD teacher. “How is that supposed to help in our recovery efforts?”
The decision to reassign the four staffers came as a specially created safety commission continued its investigation into the mass shooting that left 17 dead, Feb. 14.
The commission found that restrooms were locked, leaving at least two students in the line of fire. The shooter was spotted on campus, but a code red was not issued. In addition, tips from students may have not been acted upon.
But Runcie said the commission’s work is far from finished.
“I’ve always said that, as we receive information, we will take action on it,” he said. “We’ve been, I think, thoughtful and patient in terms of how we’ve operated.”
Hours earlier, 7News cameras captured dozens of Stoneman Douglas students as they staged a protest and walkout at the school.
“We want them back,” protesters chanted as they marched down a street.
Demonstrator Hailey Jacobson, an MSD freshman, defended the assistant principals who were replaced.
“They patrol those campuses every day, protecting us and making sure we feel safe,” she said. “To take them away, it’s a crime, and it hits all of us.”
“These are people who are well-liked in our school, in our community, and we want them back,” said MSD student Spencer Blum.
For fellow student Kelsey Friend, the reassignments have reopened an old wound.
“I was in the shooting. I lost my teacher and my friends, and having more people taken away from us is just taking a part of my heart,” she said.
Teachers also protested the reassignments. Several of them stood outside of the entrance to the school holding up signs.
MSD teacher Greg Pittman believes Porter, Morford, Reed and Greenleaf are being singled out and blamed for the failures that allowed confessed shooter Nikolas Cruz to enter the school and wreak havoc.
“This is not normal. It’s not right, and we’re not getting the help we need still,” he said, “and ripping out our team is not helping us.”
But to Andrew Pollack, who lost his daughter Meadow in the Feb. 14 massacre, the reassignments do not come as a surprise.
“It all could have been avoided if they followed protocol and kept the gate shut, if they followed protocol with a code red,” said Pollack, “so I don’t see what they’re crying about.”
Runcie said the assistant principals who have temporarily replaced the ones who were reassigned are already in place. In an email, they were identified as follows:
- Ron Adams, assistant principal from Coral Springs High School
- Teresita Chipi, assistant principal from Blanche Ely High School
- Daniel Lechtman, assistant principal from Falcon Cove Middle School
- Darius Saunders, assistant principal from South Broward High School
In the email, Runcie said Adams, Chipi and Saunders were former educators at Stoneman Douglas.
The Broward County School Board has not given an official reason for the reassignments. The safety commission’s report is scheduled to be released in January.
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