Stoneman Douglas Administrators Going To Court In Attempt To Keep Jobs At School
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – The association representing Broward Principals and Assistant principals is suing the Broward school district to reinstate three Marjorie Stoneman Douglas assistant principals who were re-assigned Monday.
Lisa Maxwell, Executive Director of the Broward Principals and Assistants Association, told CBS4 News Wednesday afternoon that their attorney was preparing an emergency motion to force the district to reinstate assistant principals Jeff Morford, Winfred Porter Jr. and Denise Reed.
Porter Jr. and Reed had been reassigned.
"They were wrongfully removed from the school," said Maxwell.
Maxwell says the three did nothing wrong and weren't given any reason for their removal.
"They didn't violate any policy. It's to take the pressure off the superintendent," said Maxwell.
On Tuesday, teachers and some students protested the assistant principals being reassigned suddenly.
The three administrators and a security specialist were told Monday they were being reassigned while the district conducts an investigation into their actions before and during the Stoneman Douglas massacre last February when 17 people were killed.
Principal Ty Thompson, who was on vacation when the shooting happened, was seen on camera this week consoling students who were upset over the assistant principals being re-assigned.
He encouraged them to contact school board members and the superintendent to reverse the decision.
"There's a lot of blame to go around but we did everything right," he told the students.
But many of the parents who lost children in the massacre say they are glad that the district is holding them accountable.
"I understand the emotionality, but we know who's to blame and who is not," said Maxwell.
Broward School spokeswoman Tracy Clark issued this statement in response to questions about the reassignments:
"At its November 13-16, 2018 meeting, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission, after lengthy investigation, publicly reported its findings regarding the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School (MSD) on February 14, 2018. Based on information presented during the Commission meeting, four MSD Staff members were notified on Monday, November 28, 2018 that they were being reassigned, with pay, and pending the outcome of an investigation by the District. The reassignments were effective as of Tuesday, November 27, 2018.
The staff members have been reassigned to administrative locations in the District, where they will be assigned a specific responsibility.
BCPS is also examining material received from the Commission to review the response by staff to the tragedy and preceding events. The evaluation will also be used to improve school safety and services to students."
Ryan Petty and Max Schachter, two father's who lost their children in the shooting, joined the CBS4 News at 7 to discuss. The video can be seen below.
