The Broward School Board took a significant step forward toward the eventual installation of metal detectors in every district school.
During a meeting last month, the board unanimously voted to introduce metal detectors in ten high schools starting this fall. The initiative will kick off with a pilot program during the summer session at Flanagan and Taravella high schools.
“The plan is to do 10 this year and then to use the funding, that is possibly from the vape litigation that we received, for the other, do the math 21, and then we’ll start going to the middle schools. We know that high schools are the first place we need to start. So in a year and a half, it’s my expectation that we will have every 31 schools, high schools, or (grade) 6-12 schools covered with metal detectors. At least three in each unit,” said Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata.
The conversation surrounding metal detectors has been ongoing in Broward, particularly in the aftermath of the tragic 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Since then, the district has implemented various security enhancements, such as increased armed officers, restricted visitor access, and mandatory student ID badges.
Previously, resistance to widespread metal detector use was rooted in concerns about cost, delays, and effectiveness. However, Licata expressed optimism, citing a successful trial in Palm Beach County schools, where he was the superintendent before his current role.
Broward School restructuring
Following the discussion on metal detectors, the board proceeded to address restructuring matters during a workshop session that extended for nearly four hours. While no definitive decisions were reached, Superintendent Licata indicated, “There are up to 30 to 40 schools that could be affected. We have too many elementary schools.”
With approximately 50,000 empty school seats district-wide and escalating maintenance expenses, school officials stress the necessity to “right-size” the district. They say there are simply too many open seats and not enough students to fill them, leading to wasted resources.
Proposed changes include various strategies such as school consolidations, repurposing of facilities, and exploring options like leasing or selling land, potentially for affordable housing projects. Additionally, considerations involve school closures and adjustments to school boundaries.
Licata has said they need to fix the issue to save money and prioritize the students who are in class. He said the student decline started five to six years ago with parents with school-aged children moving out of Broward and younger people moving in.
Many schools in Broward are currently operating at 70 percent capacity or lower.
According to a report from the Broward Schools Demographics & Enrollment Planning Department, “In the 2023/24 school year, sixty-seven Broward County Public Schools meet the School Board Policy 5000 threshold of under-enrollment of permanent capacity utilization below seventy percent. This list includes forty-five elementary schools, sixteen middle schools, five high schools, and one combination school. These sixty-seven schools represent 31.9 percent of the District’s total 210 elementary, middle, high, and combination schools, and 64.9 percent of all unfilled seats in the District’s permanent capacity.”
Licata committed to presenting a list of affected schools by April 16th.
