SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

New Security Measures Implemented at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

A Florida district implements mandatory ID badges and use of clear backpacks, additional law enforcement, and limited entry points at the school, which was the site of a deadly shooting in February.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
April 5, 2018
New Security Measures Implemented at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Broward County Public Schools implemented mandatory ID badges and use of clear backpacks, additional law enforcement, and limited entry points at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which was the site of a deadly shooting in February.

3 min to read


Broward County Public Schools implemented mandatory ID badges and use of clear backpacks, additional law enforcement, and limited entry points at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, which was the site of a deadly shooting in February.

PARKLAND, Fla. — New security measures, including mandatory ID badges and use of clear backpacks, additional law enforcement, and limited entry points, were implemented on Monday at the high school that was the site of a deadly shooting in February.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students are now required to use the transparent backpacks, and students and staff members are required to wear identification badges while on campus, according to a letter from Robert Runcie, the school superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, to students' families. The high school is serving as a pilot for security changes that are being considered districtwide.

The school gave the students the free backpacks, donated by Walmart and the Broward Education Foundation, when they returned from spring break on Monday, the Sun Sentinel reports. Responding to a student who asked the superintendent to reconsider the mandatory backpacks, Runcie said that the district will “continue to re-evaluate and make changes based on experience and feedback from you and other students.”

Another security measure that was implemented as part of the pilot at Marjory Stoneman was the presence of additional law enforcement officers stationed at every entrance. The district is also looking into using metal-detecting wands and possibly installing permanent metal detectors, Runcie added in the letter.

Districtwide, safety procedures for routine school operations are being reinforced. That includes students and staff being required to wear the ID badges on campus, classroom doors being locked at all times, exterior doors and gates being locked and secured throughout the day, and regularly conducting emergency preparedness and response training for students and staff. Broward County Schools is also working with law enforcement to review the procedures and frequency of its code red training.

Additionally, the district has expedited the completion of “single point of entry” measures for visitors, using fencing and door systems to limit access to one entrance. The work is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2019. The district is also working on upgrading real-time surveillance camera systems at all of its schools, with an expected completion date of June 2018, Runcie noted in the letter.

Some students compared their school, with the changes, to an airport or a prison, according to the Sun Sentinel.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on March 9, allots $98 million for increasing school building security in the state, as well as over $25 million for replacing a building at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, and over $69 million for mental health assistance in schools.

The bill was prompted by the Feb. 14 shooting at the school, which killed 17 students and school staff members. Broward County Public Schools drivers transported students and staff away from the scene to a meeting place to reunite with family and friends. In the weeks following the shooting, the transportation department provided transportation for students, parents, staff, and the community to resources and services to aid in the recovery process.

The transportation department is working with district leaders to develop a plan that includes short- and long-term solutions that will impact student transportation emergency and crisis operations and safety measures, said Nadine Drew, a spokeswoman for the district, in a recent interview with School Bus Fleet.

More Safety

Graphic titled "NSC Award Winners" featuring two group photos of National Safety Council award recipients. One group holds an "Our Driving Concern Employer Traffic Safety Award" banner, while the other poses with a recognition plaque at the 2026 Texas Traffic Safety Conference.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettAugust 4, 2026

How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs

Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.

Read More →
A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Read More →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

Read More →