Coral Springs

Some Taravella High School Parents Uneasy After Fires, Fight

Some parents say they're uneasy following days of fights, evacuations and fires set on purpose at Taravella High School in Coral Springs.

"It's kind of scary because the school environment is supposed to be like a safe environment," parent Bethany Lefler said Thursday.

"I'm taking my kids out of the school, definitely," Yunia Rodriguez said.

Police have increased their presence at the high school this week following the series of incidents, which include a pair of fires set inside the school on Monday and Tuesday.

"When you decide to start a fire in the school and put everybody else's life in danger, it needs to be stopped," 11th grader Weslyne Seraphin said.

The school principal and Coral Springs Police met with parents behind closed doors Thursday morning, as police investigated a possible threat of a shooting plotted for Friday.

Broward County Public School officials said 80 parents attended the meeting with Principal Shawn Cerra.

"In a communication to parents and students yesterday, Principal Cerra assured all that Taravella High School's highest priority is student safety and that students responsible for this week’s disruptive incidents would receive appropriate disciplinary action provided by the Code of Student Conduct disciplinary matrix," Broward SAchools said in a statement.

"With all these cops coming here, protecting us, that's really good, so hopefully there's no shooting tomorrow," senior Gavin Robinson said.

Parents who attended the meeting said a suspect in the possible shooting has been caught.

"I really don't think that there's a threat right now," said parent Ann Rivero, who attended the meeting.

Others said the incidents have been blown slightly out of proportion.

"I have no problem sending my son to school tomorrow," Hollis Pernick said.

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