'll 4" THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA 600 Southeast Third Avenue - Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301 Office: 754-321-2600 - Fax: 754-321-2701 ROBERT W. RUNCIE Superintendent of Schools March 21, 2018 Dear Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Families: The School Board of Broward County, Florida Nora Rupert, Chair Heather P. Brinkworth, Vice Chair Robin Bartleman Abby M. Freedman Patricia Good Donna P. Korn Laurie Rich Levinson Ann Murray Dr. Rosalind Osgood Our hearts remain with the entire Marjory Stoneman Douglas community as we continue to recover from the tragedy that occurred on February 14, 2018. Over the past several weeks, we have received many inquiries regarding our District?s efforts to fortify the Marjory Stoneman Douglas campus and expand safety protocols at the school. We want to assure you that the safety and security of our students and employees remain our highest priorities. The recent signing of Senate Bill 7026 (the School Safety Bill) into law provides us with additional resources to support our ongoing efforts in this area. Below is an overview of the two-tiered approach the District is implementing regarding Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and schools across the District. Safety and Securitv Measures Specific to Ma_riorv Stoneman Douqlas Hiqh Due to recent campus events, Florida Governor Rick Scott is providing additional law enforcement officers from the Florida Highway Patrol for the school. The District is providing additional school security personnel positions for the school. When students return from spring break, clear backpacks are the only backpacks that will be permitted on campus. Students will be provided with a clear backpack, at no cost, when they return to campus. Every student will be issued a student identification badge. Students and staff will be required to wear their badges at all times while on campus. The District is exploring options for consolidating points of entry for students and staff to include utilizing metal-detecting wands and potentially installing permanent metal detectors. These measures further enhance the Single Point of Entry currently in place for campus visitors. ?fetv a_nd Securitv Measures Districtwide (includinq Mariorv Stoneman Douqlas Hiqh) All safety protocols for routine school operations are being reinforced. This includes requiring students and staff to wear identification badges while on campus; locking classroom doors at all times; locking and securing exterior doors and gates throughout the day; being vigilant in monitoring the campus throughout the day; and conducting emergency preparedness and response training for faculty, staff and students on a regular basis. The District actively conducts code red training, which is the foundation of active-shooter training, throughout the school year at all schools. We are working with law enforcement agencies to evaluate the protocols and frequency of code red training and drills for all schools for the next school year. The District has expedited the completion of Single Point of Entry measures for campus visitors, which use fencing and door systems to limit access to one entrance. This work will be completed at all schools by the end of this calendar year or the first quarter of 2019 at the latest. This work is being funded through the District's current capital budget funding sources. Educating Today?s Students to Succeed in Tomorrow's World Broward County Public Schools is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer Letter to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Families March 21, 2018 Page 2 0 With the approval of recent legislation, the state will provide the District with approximately $8.5 million to place a minimum of one School Resource Officer in each school beginning in the 2018/19 school year. 0 With the approval of recent legislation, the state will also provide the District with approximately $6 million to expand mental health services beginning in the 2018/19 school year. 0 The District is in the process of upgrading real-time surveillance camera systems at all schools. The work will be completed by June 2018. This work is being funded through the District?s current capital budget funding sources. 0 The District will develop a Districtwide Security Risk Assessment for all schools by August 2018 and compete for a share of a $98 million statewide allocation to fund, in whole or in part, the costs associated with improving the physical security of school buildings. The state anticipates awarding grant funds to approved school districts in the first quarter of 2019. The District will convene working groups and task forces to garner suggestions from citizens in our communities. Keeping our students, staff and schools safe is the responsibility of everyone in our community. We encourage parents and families to reinforce with their children if you see something, say something. Information and tips can be shared anonymously in the following ways: Call 754-321-091 1 0 Email 0 Text CRIMES 274637 the message must begin with SBBC 0 Submit online via As a reminder, during Spring Break, counseling services continue to be available for students and staff at the Broward County Resiliency Center, located at the Pine Trails Park Amphitheater, 10561 Trails End, Parkland, Florida, 33076. The Broward County Resiliency Center offers: Spring Break Hours of Operation: 0 Grief counseling 0 Sunday, March 25, 2018: Noon to 5 pm. 0 Referrals to community resources 0 Monday, March 26 Thursday, March 29, 2018: Specialized groups Noon to 7 pm. *Please note, the Broward County Resiliency Center will be closed on Saturday, March 24, 2018, and Friday, March 30 Sunday, April 1, 2018. in addition, as students return from Spring Break, counselors remain at every District school. Crisis support information, including tips for talking to your child, is also available on the District?s website, While we cannot change the heartbreaking and senseless act of violence at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, by working together, we can change the future. All students deserve safe schools. We are proud of our students? determination to effect positive change in this country and for the incredible support from the Broward community and across the country. Thank you for your ongoing support during this difficult time, as we continue to recover from this tragedy. Sincer ert W. Runcie Superintendent