Sun Sentinel mischaracterizes Broward schools’ response to Parkland shooting

Broward County Public Schools respects its responsibility to provide information to our community about the tragedy on Feb. 14. The district has cooperated with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission and other law enforcement agencies charged with conducting investigations to determine what happened, who was at fault and what should be done to prevent a similar tragedy. These law enforcement agencies have subpoena powers, allowing the district to provide all documents requested regardless of privacy or confidentiality laws.

The district has also provided – and continues to provide – records and information to the South Florida Sun Sentinel. The district’s intent is to be transparent, while adhering to privacy and confidentiality laws.

The commission was formed within the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to specifically research and analyze information from the school shooting and address recommendations and system improvements. At the request of the commission chair, Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the district halted its own investigation until the commis- sion’s investigation was completed.

Prior to my testimony at the November commission meeting, Chair Gualtieri stated:

“Superintendent Runcie, before your opening remarks I want to thank you and the staff of the Broward County School District for your professionalism, your transparency and your cooperation in this investigation. Everybody from you throughout the organization throughout the last seven months can only be described as professional, transparent, cooperative and responsive to all of the requests and all of the interviews and everything asked by the investigators. We thank you.”

This statement is indicative of the district’s willingness to provide all information and resources to help the investigation.

Recent Sun Sentinel articles accuse the district of withholding vital information about the tragedy. Their narrative fails to accurately distinguish information the district could not release due to state and federal laws, instead implying the district’s intent was to keep information from the public.

The Sun Sentinel’s use of provocative headlines, such as “Hide, Deny, Spin, Threaten,” are intended to attract readers, but are not supported by facts. It is far into the article that reporters note “government regulations supersede the district’s ability to release certain facts and documents pertaining to the defendant.” Positioning this information deep into the article paints the district with a negative brush.

Following the tragedy, the district experienced an unprecedented volume of requests for information and records. Whether or not we agree, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act protects the privacy of student education records. We have done our best to adhere to these laws, maintain transparency and be responsive.

When navigating in an environment that is highly sensitive, and one in which we are trying to be thoughtful while being thorough in our responses, it has never been our intention to mislead.

We look to the Sun Sentinel to present that information in a fair and unbiased manner to allow the public to form its own opinion.

Our district remains focused on learning from this tragedy and identifying ways to create safer and more secure schools.

Robert Runcie is the superintendent of the Broward County School District.

Majority of Americans support climate laws

After reading your paper’s excellent defense of Rep. Ted Deutch’s Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividends Act (Dec. 12), I was disappointed to read your estimation that Congress would not enact it into law. What folly our legislators and the president are entertaining in ignoring this bill. This is especially so when you stop to consider that the majority of Americans support Congress taking action on climate change.

It is hard to comprehend why Congress can be so short sighted in ignoring this bill. This policy will reduce America’s emissions by at least 40 percent within 12 years, it is estimated. Beside the fact that our health and lives will be less imperiled, consider that this is a revenue neutral bill. The fees collected on carbon emissions will go right in the pocketbooks of the American people to spend as they see fit.

This policy will create 2.1 million additional jobs. The youth population knows the threat climate change will have in their future as they can see how today’s environmental degradation is affecting us now. Who can ignore the fact that we are already being plagued with weather patterns that are unsustainable. More than half of all millennials support taking action on climate change. We should listen to our youth, lest we see the destruction of our civilization as we know it.

Boca Raton