Broward County has scrapped plans to use metal detectors at the start year at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School year, according to the Miami Herald.
"As we continue our due diligence to implement the program — consulting with vendors and experts and reviewing turnkey solutions — many issues have been raised that require the District to pause and have a more thoughtful discussion on policy and procedural aspects of this pilot," Superintendent Robert Runcie wrote in a statement to the community.
School safety advocate Andrew Pollack tweeted outrage at the reversal of the policy Friday. Pollack's daughter Meadow was among 17 killed in the Feb. 14 shooting.
Pollack added a call Saturday for Runcie's resignation because "schoolchildren are not safe as long as he is the superintendent."
Among the challenges are privacy concerns and logistics of expeditiously screening more than 3,000 students daily, according to the report.
Student gun control activists at the school had successfully fought against safety recommendations of weapon checks and clear back packs in order to stand up for making new gun laws.
The school will still require school ID's on campus and staff will have to swipe their badges to enter the administration building, while the following safety upgrades are still planned to be implemented, according to the report:
- Added video camera surveillance systems.
- New fencing and gates to establish a 'secondary perimeter” at the school that will limit campus access to three entrances once you pass the main perimeter fence.
- Classroom doors we be locked from the outside at all times.
- New video intercom and electric door release buzzer to assure the visitor's door remains locked as the single point of entry during the day.
Hiring a security staffer whose "sole responsibility will be to monitor the camera system and alert appropriate individuals of suspicious activity," Runcie said.
"Returning to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School will be difficult for everyone, most especially for students, faculty, and staff," Runcie wrote in his address to the community. "Our hope is that we can all continue to find ways to come together, as the District works to make our school environment safer and stronger."
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