BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – Broward County public school students should expect to undergo random searches utilizing handheld metal detectors as part of the district’s comprehensive safety measures aimed at protecting students and staff on campus.
Following a workshop held on Tuesday afternoon, it appears that the implementation of these measures is largely settled, with minimal dissent among attendees.
A formal vote is scheduled for next Wednesday, and in the subsequent weeks, the deployment of metal detectors at every public school is anticipated.
For Broward School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff, this mission is deeply personal after her 14-year-old daughter, Alyssa Alhadeff, was killed during the Parkland shooting over six years ago.
“It’s so important for us as a school board to implement every layer of school safety protection that we can try to do to prevent these weapons from getting into our schools,” she said.
During Tuesday’s workshop, Alhadeff joined several board members advocating for the prompt installation of walk-through metal detectors in all 31 Broward County high schools by the start of the 2024-2025 academic year.
Originally, the plan was to initiate a pilot summer program and gradually introduce the detectors to 10 campuses next year, expanding further in subsequent years. However, board members argued that a gradual rollout would not uphold equity or fairness in ensuring safety.
“If this potentially can save lives, I want to implement metal detectors in all of our high schools simultaneously, ensuring the protection of every student,” said Alhadeff.
The Broward schools’ chief of security and safety addressed queries from the board regarding the rollout strategy.
Each high school is slated to receive two to four metal detectors which will be staffed by security personnel.
The pilot program is set to commence at JP Taravella High School in Coral Springs and Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines during their summer learning programs.
New Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn spoke about the opportunity to glean insights from neighboring districts, such as Palm Beach County, that have already implemented similar measures.
“It takes a lot of planning,” said Hepburn. “Luckily, we can learn from neighboring districts, especially those with large high schools, like the one right to the north of us.”
The initiative aims to avert incidents like in January, where an 18-year-old student was apprehended for bringing a gun to Stranahan High School, prompting a campus lockdown. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Board members also emphasized that the technology could not only detect deadly weapons but also prevent contraband like vaping devices from entering schools.
The cost for the installation of metal detectors at all 31 Broward schools is approximately $1.8 million.