Parents criticize School Board

List of nine decision reversals by district leaders cited for frustration since Parkland massacre

The parents of students killed in the Parkland massacre slammed the Broward County School Board on Thursday for what they called a lack of decisiveness in the months since the attack.

They criticized the nine-member board for making decisions and then “unmaking” them, citing these reversals:

The board pledged to install metal detectors at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, site of the massacre, by the first day of school, which will be Wednesday, but Runcie wrote a letter to parents last week saying there were too many complications, including expected long lines and staffing problems.

Runcie hired a retired Secret Service agent to review school policies and school staff’s actions before the killings but withdrew that plan last month. Runcie said the review could duplicate the work of the state’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission.

“We have focused on the issues, but the School Board has not provided answers,” said Tony Montalto, whose 14-year-old daughter, Gina, was among those killed. “Where is the accountability?”

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter, Jaime, 14, was killed, called a

recent School Board meeting a “mockery” for its arguments among board members.

“They blame each other for decisions that are made and unmade,” he said.

The parents urged Broward residents to vote for their slate of candidates in the Aug. 28 primary. Five of nine School Board seats are up for election, and the parents have endorsed candidates in each race. Two parents whose children died, Lori Alhadeff and Ryan Petty, are among the candidates running for the board.

During the news conference, the parents declined to call for the resignation of the board’s chief employee, Superintendent Robert Runcie, whom many residents have faulted for mistakes made since the killings.

“We have pointed out that the School Board has had many failures and can make the changes if they need to,” Montalto said in response to a question about calling for Runcie’s resignation.

Runcie said Wednesday he has worked to improve school security amid an assortment of parental demands and financial restrictions.

“We’re in uncharted territory,” he said during a tour of Stoneman Douglas’s new portables, built to replace the 1200 building where the shootings occurred. “We don’t always get it right.”

Thursday’s news conference took place at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, where the state commission met this week to continue its investigation into the shootings and come up with proposals for improving school safety.

The commission is composed

“Some want metal detectors. Some want more people with guns. Some don’t. You’re trying to juggle so many demands.” Rosalind Osgood, school board member

of law enforcement officers, public officials and parents of children killed in the attack.

School Board members have emphasized their efforts to improve school security amid the broader context of 234 schools in the district that also need attention.

“There are multiple demands with different groups,” School Board member Rosalind Osgood said. “Some want metal detectors. Some want more people with guns. Some don’t. You’re trying to juggle so many demands.”

April Schentrup was a school principal in Pembroke Pines until she was reassigned to a position overseeing district safety and security.

Her 16-year-old daughter, Carmen, died in the Parkland shooting. She criticized board members for comments they made during a meeting Thursday about the state of the school district. She said they praised the school system’s accomplishments in the past year.

“It was difficult to hear those words,” Schentrup said. “We know it wasn’t the best year in Broward schools.”

TAIMY ALVAREZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Tony Montalto, left, speaks at a news conference Thursday with other parents whose children were killed in the shooting.