Advisory group reports security lapses at Broward schools; board asks staff for follow-up

Members of the Broward County School Board on April 8 heard a diversity committee report that described recurring school security problems including blind spots, inoperable cameras and inconsistent single-point entry practices at some campuses.

The committee’s chair, Narni Pierre Grant, told the board the advisory has completed 15 site visits this school year and noted “common themes… facility issues, standard of service and consistency, and safety and security issues.” The committee reported a high number of outstanding work orders, nonfunctional public-address systems at some schools and evidence that required single-point entry procedures were not uniformly enforced.

Board members pressed for more detail. Dr. Zeman (board member) said the board should be told when an advisory visit finds “critical lapses” rather than leaving problems unreported. Superintendent Dr. V. Hepburn told the board she was concerned about discussing security specifics in a public forum and said the district is already making organizational and staffing changes to address gaps.

Aaron Lozano, the district’s chief safety and security officer, told the board that when the diversity committee schedules site visits the district adds an on-site safety director or designee so deficiencies can be addressed in real time. Lozano said the district has an Office of Safe Schools that conducts inspections and that the district’s overall scores have improved year over year.

Multiple board members and advisory chairs urged stronger, timely communication between advisory councils and district security staff. Grant said she typically raises issues first with a school principal but asked the board whether advisory members should report certain findings directly to a chief so the district can correct problems quickly.

Board members and staff agreed on a customer-focused reporting pathway: advisory members should notify the regional office and the security chief when they see security concerns so the district can respond in real time. The superintendent’s office said it would provide formal guidance on how advisory groups should report security vulnerabilities without publicly exposing exploitable details.

The board also reiterated ways for the public to report safety concerns. Staff reminded the public that Fortify Florida and the SaferWatch “See Something, Say Something” app are fully integrated with district processes and that students, staff and families can submit tips electronically.

Why it matters: Advisory school visits surface problems not always visible in routine inspections. Board members said the district should treat advisory reports as an early-warning channel and make it simple for advisories, parents and staff to get a timely district response without exposing security-sensitive details.

Ending: Staff agreed to provide the board with a follow-up describing a streamlined reporting process for advisory visits and to outline how the district will monitor and close identified security gaps. The board also asked staff to report back on whether regional differences exist and how to ensure consistent security practices across the county.