Schools back gun control measures

The Broward County School Board has formally entered the gun debate, passing a resolution Tuesday that calls for tougher federal background checks and a ban on semi-automatic weapons.

The resolution also asks for more federal money for school resource officers, psychologists and counselors, as well as bigger gun-free zones around the perimeters of schools. It opposes arming teachers.

It’s one of two resolutions the district passed related to the Feb. 14 mass shooting that killed 17 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. The second resolution expresses appreciation to first responders after the shooting. One police officer is highlighted for appreciation — Michael Leonard of Coconut Creek Police, who caught the gunman.

In the school safety resolution, the district says it stands with students and staff at Stoneman Douglas “in demanding effective and comprehensive action from the federal government to protect schoolchildren.”

No mention was made of the state legislature, which has been debating a number of school security measures in recent days. The resolution was drafted by the Council of Great City Schools, which represents 70 large urban school districts.

The Council sent a draft resolution March 1 to its school districts, said Henry Duvall, a spokesman for the group. He said the San Antonio school district passed the resolution Monday and he expects Sacramento, Cleveland and other districts to adopt it soon.

In addition to Stoneman Douglas, the resolution refers to Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut and Columbine High in Colorado, as well as school shootings in Red Lake Minn., Lancaster, Pa., and Cleveland and Chardon, Ohio.