Grand jury to review school safety in PBC

A grand jury will examine school safety issues and make recommendations for improvements in Palm Beach County after last week’s mass school shooting in Broward County, State Attorney Dave Aronberg announced Thursday.

On the table will be ideas for the development of “effective early warning systems,” limitations on assault weapons, better background checks, and mental health reforms.

The deaths of 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, “serves as a reminder that no community is immune from school violence,” Aronberg said in a statement. “That’s why we need to remain vigilant to ensure that we’re doing everything we can to keep our kids safe.”

One proposal not mentioned in the announcement is a suggestion from President Donald Trump to arm some teachers.

A grand jury that already is convened is expected to make recommendations by June. This marks the second time since Aronberg took office in 2013 that he used the grand jury format for a large public initiative.

The last time was in 2016 for an investigation of fraud and abuse in the drug rehab and sober home industry, which produced numerous arrests and reforms in state law. “A grand jury is insulated from politics and pressure, which makes it a powerful vehicle to evaluate our current policies and propose changes to make our schools safer,” Aronberg said.

Palm Beach County’s top prosecutor said he was alarmed that just hours after the Feb. 14 massacre at Stoneman Douglas, a student at Palm Beach Lakes High School in West Palm Beach was arrested for bringing two guns to school.

Aronberg also cited numerous threats by students on social media that have unnerved the school community since Parkland.