What to Know
- Marjory Stoneman Douglas students will return to school on Monday to new security measures.
- Students will be required to carry a clear backpack, and will have to wear a school ID badge at all times.
- Other possible security measures include: installing metal detectors, metal detecting wands and consolidating entries for staff and students
On Monday, students returned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School from spring break and the campus will begin using stronger security protocols.
As part of the stricter safety measures, students must use clear backpacks. Students were provided with free ones Monday and they will be the only type of backpack allowed on campus.
Each student was also given a student ID badge, which must be worn at all times.
Sarah Chadwick, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and one of the people behind the #NeverAgain movement, posted on Twitter that her school is "starting to feel like a prison" due to the stronger security protocols being put in place.
The Broward school district is also providing additional school security personnel beyond the Florida Highway Patrol officers that Gov. Rick Scott provided in March.
Local
The changes to the security protocol are part of the district's response to a mass shooting on the high school campus that killed 17 people on Feb. 14. The alleged gunman and former student, Nikolas Cruz, was able to get into the building and leave after the incident undetected.
The district is considering permanent metal detectors and the use metal-detecting wands as further security measures at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School. It's also weighing the possibility of consolidating points of entry for students and staff. As of right now, there is a single point of entry for visitors at the high school.
Districtwide, the school board says they are working with law enforcement to evaluate the protocols and frequency of code-red training and drills. The school district also plans to expedite the completion of single point entry for campus visitors at all schools by the first quarter of 2019. The school district is also working to upgrade real-time surveillance camera systems at all schools.
The approval of recent legislation will also help fund additional school resource officers and mental health services.
