The Florida Department of Education is hosting experts from across the country for a gathering on keeping students safe.
Florida’s National Summit on School Safety is an event designed to bring together education leaders, law enforcement officials, policymakers and safety professionals to discuss and share best practices in school safety.
The summit has a focus on Florida’s enhanced safety measures and policies that have been implemented since the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.
Jordan Rodriguez, who is the principal of Choices in Learning Charter School, said threat assessment is a key issue on campuses.
“Parkland was the game changer, and when I talk to people about school security and school safety, I always reference that specifically,” Rodriguez said. “How it did so is really our diligence as a state in identifying potential threats early.”
During the summit, there will also be a discussion on school safety legislation.
Florida Department of Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. said he hopes new ideas appear.
“We hope not only to export the success that we’ve had (in school security), but also take new ideas, because at the end of the day this is never final.”
Diaz said executing security is job No. 1.
“The most pressing issue is execution and we have to have the execution of making sure those officers are on that campus. Whether it’s guardians or a combination of that we have single entries, that we have our schools secured and that people are vigilant.”
The talks are happening as state lawmakers are considering a bill to roll back gun control passed in the wake of Parkland. One measure would undo a law that raised the age for buying a rifle from 18 to 21.
Diaz shared his personal beliefs on the root cause of school shootings.
“I personally, and from all the stats, I don’t think the issue is the Second Amendment issue or the policies on buying guns. I think the issue is the mental health issue,” he said.
“Eighteen to 21 is not going to make a difference in my mind,” Rodriguez said. “It is getting to the mental health crisis. That’s what we’ve got to put all of our energy into in identifying those kids early.”
According to the FDOE, the summit also aims to foster collaboration amongst state leaders, allowing them to learn from Florida’s approach to ensure safer school environments for students across the nation.
Florida’s National Summit on School Safety continues through Feb. 28 at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
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