FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) - Several community leaders gathered in Fort Lauderdale in support of Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie.
The group outside the Kathleen C. Wright Administrative Building, Tuesday, consisted of elected officials and business leaders who believe Runcie should not be removed from his position.
Safe Havens International representatives went before the board, around 4 p.m. Tuesday, after doing an assessment of all Broward County Schools. They are now explaining what they believe Broward County schools need for safety improvements.
The non-profit said that Broward County schools do not need metal detectors, which was a big source of controversy as of late.
“If I’m planning an attack, I only have to beat that one time,” said Safe Havens official Michael Dorn, “so when we look at why we decide to use any of these protective options, I just give that as a caution.”
Safe Havens officials said that after their assessment, they believe upgrading surveillance systems, buzzer access control and adding a chief security officer with a communication and monitoring center is much more important right now.
The new school year is just hours away in Broward County, and big changes are expected to be on the way.
“You will notice the differences, the teachers, everyone, they see it they feel it,” Runcie said.
Officials said, once the district gets more funding, they can hit their goal of getting every school a school resource officer
“We have the referendum, that’s on the August 28th ballot, and that’s to help us secure additional resources in terms of security staff,” Runcie said.
Meanwhile, the group of business leaders and lawmakers gathered earlier in the day to defend the superintendent.
Many family members of the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre have called for Runcie to step down, stating that the school board and others failed Nikolas Cruz, the former student accused of the Feb. 14 shooting.
“There’s plenty of people that let my daughter down that day, from the FBI not following up their leads, the [Broward] Sheriff’s Department and in the school district,” said Andrew Pollack, whose daughter Meadow Pollack was killed.
Stoneman Douglas parent Tracy Lund spoke before the board with her concerns.
“When my child walks through MSD with her backpack, how are you gonna tell me that no one else on that campus is gonna have a gun or a knife in their backpack,” Lund said. “It’s a realistic question.”
However, those supporting Runcie said the district has been doing better since he became superintendent and that they no longer have a major deficit that existed when Runcie took the position in 2011.
“He really is a model superintendent, and we would be hard pressed to find someone with the caliber and talent of Superintendent Runcie,” said Bob Swindell, CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Alliance.
Supporters also said schools are flourishing and ask that critics give Runcie the time to make the necessary changes, saying a CEO in business does not get asked to step down when things are going well.
Some supporters suggested the criticism is politically driven, especially with the Florida primary elections right around the corner.
“You have individuals who are campaigning off of this with the basis of fire Runcie,” said State Representative Shevrin Jones. “That’s just not how the process should work. That’s not what your political strategy should be.”
President of City Furniture Keith Koenig said that Broward County can’t afford to lose Runcie.
“Over 250,000 kids and over 20,000 employees and teachers benefit from his leadership,” Koenig said. “The business community knows Bob Runcie is a great leader. We’re proud to have him. We need him.”
Those in favor of Runcie reminded critics that the superintendent did not put the gun in Cruz’s hands. They went on to say that a lot of people and different agencies failed Cruz.
Runcie said he’s taking these safety concerns seriously. He said every single school in Broward County will have an armed presence when school starts on Wednesday. He’s asked the City of Fort Lauderdale for 13 armed police officers to help.
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