SARASOTA, FL (WWSB) - It's a sad reality, this deadly school shooting in Broward County on Wednesday that killed many could happen in any school district at anytime. Sarasota County School Superintendent Todd Bowden tells us this unimaginable tragedy is every school district's worst nightmare.
"Your immediate thoughts go to the students, faculty, staff, the community surrounding Stoneman Douglas High School," said Bowden. "Certainly you immediately think of your own family and your own community when you hear the news that we heard."
Brian McCall had just heard the news of the shooting while picking up his daughter from a Sarasota County elementary school. The father of three says this shooting is shocking and hits far too close to home.
"I'm pretty nervous, there's just a bunch of crazy people out there nowadays, you just never know," said McCall.
Superintendent Bowden says security is something that is a top priority for the Sarasota County school district. There have been incidents recently that has put their security to the test, including one that led to the arrest of a Riverview High School student who had shown a handgun to another student on a bus. A security team does keep a close eye on cameras at all schools throughout the county 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Bowden says the school district is always looking for ways to improve.
"After this incident is over, we'll get a play by play as to what happened, what worked what didn't work and we'll learn from the experience of Stoneman Douglas", said Bowden.
