MSD Commission Rips Into Superintendent Robert Runcie Over Security Concerns At Some Broward Schools
SUNRISE (CBSMiami/AP) - Members of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety commission are frustrated learning that 29 Broward County charter schools are not in compliance when it comes to having an a sustainable plan for armed guards on school campuses.
"It's pathetic. It's ridiculous," said MSD Safety Commission Chairman Sheriff Bob Gaultieri. He said this is the only county in Florida that's facing this problem.
"Right now, everything's running around here by the seat of its pants and it is not the way to do business. It's not good," he said.
The Broward School board had plans to shut down one charter for not having a Guard on campus Wednesday.
"We are taking action," said Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie. "There was a charter, we know yesterday, didn't have an officer there. We're moving to close and recommend that charter be shut down."
Just hours after Runcie made that statement, that school, Championship Academy of Distinction in Davie, made plans to sign an agreement with Davie Police.
Max Schachter lost his son Alex in the Parkland School Shooting. He's also on the MSD safety commission.
"There's 588 kids that were not protected last year if a school shooters would have shown up," he said. "It would have been catastrophic. We're not going to have a safe school officer this year if it wasn't for our office of safe schools and our sheriff."
Initially — Runcie would not name the school.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said it should be called out. He did it when one of his charter schools was not prepared.
"I called out that school. I not only called out that school I called the news media together and you know what, magical things happened after the stand up that afternoon. The very next morning that charter school found a way to hire that police officer to be on that campus and the children were safe," Sheriff Judd said.
Gaultieri said he wants an update on all 29 of those charter schools by next Friday.
Meanwhile, Broward Sheriff Gregory Tony said he would make sure all schools are covered until they can make their final plans.
