FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ The Florida state commission investigating the Parkland school shooting unanimously approved a tough final report Wednesday that puts the responsibility for reform on school districts, law enforcement agencies, Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis and state legislative leaders.
The 458-page report by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission addresses the cascade of errors revealed in the wake of the shooting, including fumbled tips, lax school security policies and unaggressive Broward County sheriff's deputies who hung back as shots were fired. The report now goes to Gov. Rick Scott, DeSantis, Senate President Bill Galvano and House Speaker Jose Oliva.
The report contains dozens of recommendations. Some would require action by the governor and Legislature, such as the proposals to allow some teachers to carry guns and increase spending on school security. It also calls for laws to be changed to allow school districts to raise taxes for security improvements and to require rather than simply permit mental health providers to notify law enforcement if a patient threatens anyone with harm. Many of the proposals were inspired by errors and weak spots that came to light after the Feb. 14 massacre of 17 people.
Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the commission, said many recommendations could have been implemented a long time ago had school safety been treated with the importance it deserved, particularly by school districts.
"There needs to be a sense of urgency," he said. "And people need to understand that there's an expectation and a rightful expectation on the part of parents: When you send your kids to school in the morning, there's an expectation they're going to come home alive in the afternoon and there are very basic things.
"There's a money issue, I grant you that. And there's challenges with money, but there's a whole bunch of things that don't cost anything and the Legislature, if these districts won't do it, should mandate that they implement these things and that they implement them immediately."
Galvano said the recommendations will be taken up Tuesday at a meeting of the Senate Education Committee. He said he would consider supporting many of the proposals, including the one to allow teachers to carry guns, which would be accomplished through expanding the school Guardian program.
"I am committed to making sure our re-examination of school safety policies does not end with the legislation we passed last year," he said in a statement.
Gualtieri spoke forcefully in favor of the commission's proposal to arm teachers, noting that the shooter had paused five times to reload _ providing opportunities to stop him.
"So what are we saying to people _ we're not going to allow you to defend yourself, we're not going to allow you to defend the kids _ why? Because of some ideology that we don't like guns? Anyone who thinks they're going to get rid of guns is crazy," he said. "It isn't going to happen. We've got to do something differently and people should be able to protect themselves."
Broward School Board member Robin Bartleman said she doubts the board will support allowing teachers to carry guns but thought the board should revisit the issue.
"I am very concerned about arming teachers," Bartleman said. "I think it's a discussion we need to have with the community. I have not found many people in favor of this. The overwhelming response I get is people don't want teachers with guns."
Board member Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa was killed at Stoneman Douglas, also opposes the idea.
"Teachers went to school to teach," she said. "That is their expertise. Law enforcement, their expertise is supposed to be to engage a threat. Unfortunately, that didn't happen on 2/14, but I still think we should leave it in the hands of law enforcement."
Under current law, most teachers aren't allowed to be armed, but ROTC instructors, current military members and those with law enforcement experience are. Non-classroom personnel, such as administrators, guidance counselors and librarians, also can be armed. However, Broward decided against arming current employees and instead to use police officers and "guardians," which serve in schools that don't have a sworn officer.
Neither Superintendent Robert Runcie nor a district spokesperson could be reached Wednesday, despite attempts by phone and email. The school district's calendar listed administrative offices as being open Wednesday, but an out of office message from the Public Information Office said they were closed for winter break until Monday.
Here are the highlights of the commission's recommendations:
