FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Broward County Schools has suspended a review by a retired Secret Service agent into the role of school staff in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High massacre.
Superintendent Robert Runcie had hired Steve Wexler, who had given safety warnings to administrators before the Feb. 14 shooting, on July 23 to look into the actions of Principal Ty Thompson, assistant principals, security staff and others.
But the district said a state commission is ready to start a similar review, and it could result in duplication. The commission has subpoena power, which allows it to go beyond just school district employees, a statement said.
"We recognize that the MSD staff is continuing to recover from this tragedy," a statement said. "To avoid asking them to participate in duplicate interviews and to streamline the process, the district has decided to suspend its internal review, and give priority to the MSD Commission's investigation."
Wexler, reached Wednesday, declined to comment.
Runcie said he had originally planned to let the commission handle the review but the work was taking longer than he expected.
The latest decision "will not impede or slow down our efforts to prioritize and implement security measures across all of our schools districtwide," the statement said.
District officials said the commission has "committed to sharing its findings and recommendations with the district, which we will use to improve campus security protocols and hold identified staff accountable for their actions," the statement said. "We look forward to the Commission's comprehensive report and a swift resolution."
