New task force wants to improve safety in Broward schools, then nationwide
PARKLAND, Fla. (CBS12) — Secure doors, bullet proof glass windows and added perimeter security are some of the safety measures the brand new Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Task Force wants to add before students begin classes in the fall.
Max Schachter, father of Parkland shooting victim Alex Schachter, is the chairman of the task force and an advocate for school safety improvements nationwide.
“My little boy, Alex, died because this monster shot through the glass window," he said. "If the glass had been bullet resistant, he would not have died."
Safe Schools for Alex is an organization formed by Schachter.
They announced the formation of the task force Tuesday morning.
According to Safe Schools for Alex, the task force will be chaired by Mr. Schachter, with permanent members including:
- Bo Landy, Founder and Executive Director of SOS Parkland
- April Schentrup, elementary school principal and mother of Carmen, one of the 17 victims of the MSD Shooting
- Noel Glacer, SOS Board Member and security industry professional
- Andrew Weinstein, Managing Partner in the Weinstein Law Firm
- Major Nathan Osgood, Broward Sheriff’s Office Command overseeing Parkland
- Denise Reed, Assistant Principal at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School
- Robert C. Hutchinson, Chief of the Broward County School Board Special Investigative Unit
Additional task force participants include:
- Robert DePriest, Active Shooter Program Manager, FBI
- Matt Frost, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Protective Security Advisor
- Gary Warren, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Protective Security Advisor
- Representatives of local police and fire agencies, student, teacher and principal representatives, Broward County Public Schools district employees from facilities, mental health and disciplinary areas
Members first want to secure Stoneman Douglas, then all Broward County schools and eventually all schools around the country.
They’ve met with companies from around the world to get ideas before sending them over to the Broward County School District.
“We use Stoneman Douglas as the pilot to expand to all Broward County schools and the entire nation,” Schachter said.
Schachter says they’re impressed with a safety program in place right now at a high school in Indiana. Teachers there wear emergency key fobs that connect directly to local law enforcement if there’s an intruder. They have live cameras, secure doors and windows that lock remotely, according to Schachter.
Members want that in South Florida as well.
“Law enforcement is not going to get there in time, what we need is the ability for the connection between the school and law enforcement,” Schachter said.
Once they craft a security "blueprint," Schacter says they will raise the funds through SOSParkland and SafeSchoolsForAlex for grants to help make this a reality.
“These school shootings are going to happen again and again unless we start hardening our schools, just like we did the airports and just like we did our federal buildings,” Schachter said.
