State of the County event focuses on safer schools.
More than 1,000 people jammed the Signature Grand in Davie on Friday for Broward’s annual “State of the County” event. They may have had different reasons for being there — business, politics, government — but their hearts were all with Parkland.
The Feb. 14 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland and how to make schools safer was a theme carried throughout the event, from the color guard from Stoneman Douglas and student Angelique Menses’ belting of the national anthem to the speeches given by government and school officials, and one passionate Parkland student.
Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie, Broward Mayor Beam Furr and Parkland student Jaclyn Corin were among speakers at the “State of the County” event.
To help safeguard Broward’s schools from violence, Runcie said he would:
■ Place school resource officers at every school.
■ Enhance “code red” training in the event of an active shooter for faculty, staff and students.
■ Ensure a single-entry system at schools and that classroom doors are locked.
■ Upgrade school surveillance
systems by June.
■ Conduct campus monitoring throughout the school day.
He said Broward’s School District will compete for a grant from state legislation on school safety recently passed and signed by Gov. Rick Scott.
Runcie said the district is investigating Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz’s school experience to learn from it so, [troubled] “kids don’t get left behind or forgotten.”
Runcie dismissed social media postings that Cruz was part of the Promise intervention program for nonviolent students — he was not.
He also dismissed the “fake news” that any of the Parkland schools students are “crisis actors” or paid protesters.
“I’m so proud to see our students channel their grief into action that has led to unprecedented legislation in Florida and a national movement,” Runcie said. “I truly believe we’re going to come out better and stronger than we’ve ever been.”
Stoneman Douglas junior class president Jaclyn Corin urged the audience of business executives and professionals, politicians, educators and other community members to end any affiliation to the National Rifle Association.
“We understand we are just kids ... but we will not let them win. Will not let the NRA win. I beg of you, cut your ties,” said Corin, who had been in the targeted school building at Stoneman Douglas just moments before the shooting.
She hid in a dark classroom “shaking,” she said. Corin had been delivering carnations for Valentine’s Day.
Broward Mayor Furr, who also chairs the county’s Children’s Services Council, said the students’ action after the school shooting is “unbelievable.”
“I have been heartened and lifted up from the young voices from Parkland and Broward County,” he said.
Furr also applauded state legislators and the governor for passing a bill “so quickly.”
Opening the speaking at the event, Furr said “it’s going to be a morning where we both laugh and cry, and that’s OK.”
James Donnelly, chairman of Broward Workshop, a group of 100 business leaders in the county, said leaders support the Broward Schools Superintendent in his bid to get more funding for county schools.
The Legislature approved an additional 47 cents per student in funding that goes to teacher salaries, new educational programs and school-related benefits. Runcie asked the Broward community’s support to request the governor call for a special session to increase school funding.
Donnelly said that while the Broward Workshop didn’t include the issue of arming some teachers in its recent “position” paper on school safety, his personal opinion is that arming teachers is “a bad idea.”
“That’s not what they’re trained for,” he said after the meeting.