Broward school board votes against proposal for annual teacher pay raise for next 3 years
The Broward County School Board voted 5-4 against raising teachers’ wages after a day-long discussion about a proposal on Tuesday that proponents said would have made the district’s teachers one of the highest paid in Florida.
School board members who lost loved ones in Parkland describe ‘painful’ visit to 1200 building
The Parkland school shooting prompted a widow and a mother to serve on Broward County’s school board. On Friday, the two women shared their experiences walking through the building where the massacre happened.
5 years after Parkland, families cope through good works
After a gunman murdered 14 students and three staff members at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School five years ago, their families were left with a burning question: How do we go on with our lives while honoring our loved one’s memory.
This Week in South Florida Podcast: January 1, 2023
On the first episode of This Week in South Florida podcast of 2023, host Glenna Milberg welcomes Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava, Broward County Mayor Lamar Fisher, Monroe County Mayor Craig Cates and Broward Schools Superintendent Vickie Cartwright.
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: November 27, 2022
On the latest episode of This Week in South Florida, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg welcome Broward School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff, Broward Schools Superintendent Vickie Cartwright, Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, and Feeding South Florida President and CEO Paco Velez.
Broward schools could lose another $420,000 in state funding over COVID rules
Florida’s education chief is threatening to withhold nearly half a million dollars in additional funding from Broward County Public Schools as the district continues face mask and quarantine policies that go against the state’s orders.
Alyssa’s Law goes into effect thanks to family of late Parkland student
This upcoming school year, Alyssa’s Law officially goes into effect, which means every single public and charter school in Florida must have a mobile panic button system that can allow for immediate, clear communication with first responders during a life-threatening situation.
This Week in South Florida Podcast: May 2, 2021
On the latest episode of the This Week in South Florida podcast, hosts Michael Putney and Glenna Milberg are joined by Florida lawmakers Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Rep. Bobby DuBose and Sen. Jason Pizzo, and Broward School Board members Lori Alhadeff and Donna Korn.
Broward school board now has 2 members who lost family in Parkland tragedy
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – After Debbi Hixon’s election win Tuesday night, there are now two family members of people who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas who will be serving on the Broward School Board. But both of them want to make it clear: That association with MSD is not all they’re bringing to the board. Hixon, whose husband was killed in the Parkland mass shooting on Feb. 14, 2018, joins current board member Lori Alhadeff, who lost her 14-year-old daughter in the tragedy. “Being the wife of Chris, who was murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas, it gave me a stronger voice,” Hixon said. "The tragedy that happened at MSD and the loss of my daughter Alyssa definitely was the catalyst to make me want to be on the school board to make sure change happens and make school safety a top priority,” she said.
'Move forward’ is purpose of new building says head of Broward schools when asked why no plaque for MSD victims
Local 10′s Janine Stanwood, who was at the Friday night opening, wrote to the Broward County Public School district after parents of some of the murder victims expressed their views. Were there future plans to add another plaque or some other memorial at the building, and why was a tribute to the school board the only dedication? In a statement from Robert W. Runcie, Superintendent, Broward County Public Schools, sent to Local 10, Runcie said that every BCPS school building has a plaque that identifies the school board of Broward County and the project architect. Runcie said that an additional commemorative plaque would be a decision made by the school community, including the school’s teachers and staff. Alhadeff also said the plans to add a water feature to honor the 17 victims had to be put on hold due to the economic downturn during the coronavirus pandemic.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas unveils new building with ‘infuriating’ plaque, victims’ fathers say
PARKLAND, Fla. – A small ceremony was held Friday evening to commemorate the opening of the newest building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. According to several who attended the ceremony, the only plaque inside the new building was commemorating the Broward County School Board —and not the 17 victims who were murdered in the Valentine’s Day massacre. Max Schacter said the plaque honoring the school board and not the victims was “infuriating.” His 14-year-old son Alex Schacter was killed while he was in English class at the 1200 building. “A lot of us blame the school board members for failing to protect our kids,” Schacter said. Alhadeff also said the plans to add a water feature to honor the 17 victims had to be put on hold due to the economic downturn during the coronavirus pandemic.
Robert Runcie gets mixed reviews from Broward school board
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – It’s been a year marked by unprecedented challenges, and Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie is getting mixed reviews from school board members who discussed his performance at their meeting Tuesday. Overall, Runcie received a grade of 2.8 out of 4 from the board. Board member Lori Alhadeff gave Runcie poor marks for a lack of communication and confusion over how schools would be reopened. Runcie got high marks for academics and the quick shift to e-learning in the face of COVID-19. Between March and the end of summer we served over 3 million meals,” Runcie said.
Florida’s top court limits total liability to $300K in Parkland school shooting victims’ lawsuit
PARKLAND, Fla. – The Florida Supreme Court ruled Thursday against the families of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims. The court ruled that the Broward County School Board is only obligated to pay up to $300,000 in total liability payments. These are the 17 victims who lost their lives in the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. (WPLG)Attorney Todd Michaels said that under state law, the board is only obligated to financial liability for the school shooting as one incident, instead of each family’s devastating loss. Lori Alhadeff, center, and her husband Ilan Alhadeff, right, hold a picture of their daughter Alyssa Alhadeff, a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victim, March 23, 2018 on Capitol Hill in Washington.
Broward school board recommends staggered return to in-person classes, beginning on Oct. 14
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – It’s the first time in months that the Broward County School Board meets in person. Pre-K through 1st grade, grades six and nine, as well as ESE students, would return in clusters on Oct. 14, 15 and 16. Runcie’s comments can be seen in the video below:Runcie 9/22 WATCH LIVE: Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie discusses return to school plan. Patricia Good, the school board member that represents District 2, told Runcie that he needs to deal with external pressures to reopen. Lori Alhadeff, a school board member who represents District 4, was concerned about the strategies that are being implemented to avoid crowding in the hallways between classes and during recess.
Gov. Ron DeSantis signs Alyssas Law, requiring silent alarms at all Florida public schools
Ron DeSantis has signed a new law Tuesday that requires all public schools in the state of Florida to have a silent panic alarm. Alyssas Law was named in honor of Alyssa Alhadeff, 14, who was killed in the Feb. 14, 2018, massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Students or teachers will be able to push the buttons inside their classrooms, directly alerting law enforcement of what and where the threat may be, cutting down on response times. Panic button technology that is already available can work through a smart phone application, allowing users to notify authorities. We need to provide all these layers and hopefully we will stop the next school shooting, Alhadeff said.
Judge: Coronavirus to blame for Parkland shooting trial delay
During a virtual hearing held on Zoom, Scherer also said she was going to hold the next virtual status hearing at 11 a.m. on Aug. 25. “We have to take it one day at a time,” Scherer said, adding that she was open to hearing about creative solutions. Gabriel Ermine, a public defender representing Cruz, 21, said the coronavirus pandemic has also contributed to the delay of depositions and legal motions. The jail also hasn’t been safe for the experts who need to meet with Cruz, Ermine said. “We are ready to have them go in once everything is safe,” Ermine said.
Florida mothers united in tragedy push lawmakers to act
At the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee, Giordano crossed paths Thursday with Lori Alhadeff, who lost her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the Parkland school shooting. Giordano and Alhadeff are linked over their grief of losing children and working to get lawmakers to make schools safer, albeit in different ways. Alhadeff was back to urge lawmakers to require panic buttons at schools to more quickly summon for help. Ron DeSantis, public schools would be required to have a tub or other large container filled with cold water at the sidelines during all games and practices. The proposed law would also require schools to train personnel on how to recognize signs of heat-related ailments, including potentially deadly heat strokes, and to take life-saving actions.
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s new building to open in August
PARKLAND, Fla. – Broward County officials said on Thursday that Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School’s new 45,000-square-foot building will be completed in August, so students will be able to abandon the temporary portable classrooms they are using now. School Board member Lori Alhadeff, a former teacher, lost her 14-year-old daughter Alyssa in the 2018 Valentine’s Day shooting in the school’s 1200 building. Lori Alhadeff attended a news conference on Thursday at the construction site of a new building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The Broward superintendent talked about the new building on Thursday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. (Local 10 News)Broward Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said the new $18 million building will have 30 classrooms, three spaces for teachers and offices.
BSO, Broward school district reach deal to extend campus security
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Broward County School District and Broward Sheriff's Office have agreed to a school security contract through June 2020. "I am definitely comfortable with the agreement," Broward School Board member Lori Alhadeff said. "We are making sure that we are in compliance with state law that we have one SRO officer or guardian at each school." The new contract raises wages for BSO school resource officers from $46,000 in 2017 to $54,700 per officer while the new deal takes effect. The new contract with BSO is set to expire in June 2020.
Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie receives satisfactory score on annual report card
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie received his own report card Monday. Runcie faced harsh criticism earlier this year after several charter schools failed to meet state safety requirements. As a whole, the Broward County school board scores its superintendent as effective, but needing improvement. The only member scoring Runcie as unsatisfactory is new board member Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter was among those killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. For scholastics, Runcie received generally high marks.
Broward Superintendent Robert Runcie receives satisfactory score on annual report card
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie received his own report card Monday. Of the nine school board members, all except one gave Runcie a mark of satisfactory. As a whole, the Broward County School Board scores its superintendent as effective, but needing improvement. The only member scoring Runcie as unsatisfactory is new board member Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter was among those murdered at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. That came as news to five of the nine board members, who found that communication is lacking.
Calming green imagery to be placed around site of MSD shooting
The traumatizing memories of what happened," Broward County School Board member Lori Alhadeff, whose daughter Alyssa, 14, was killed in the shooting, said. Alhadeff came up with the idea for the new green imagery. With the help of an anonymous $15,000 donation and $5,000 raised on an online fundraiser, the former building 12 fence will soon be wrapped in images of calming green landscapes. Alhadeff said while the current banners and messages are nice, they're tough to pass by every day. "Reading the different banners, it can trigger students to have feelings bringing back what happened on Feb. 14, 2018," she said.