TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The Broward County Sheriff said Nikolas Cruz, the suspected gunman in a mass shooting at a South Florida high school, was expelled from school before the shooting. It begs the question, "What happens to a student after he or she is kicked out?"
Leon County Schools has what's called a "second chance school" at the Ghazvini Learning Center, which gives students who were expelled another opportunity to work on their education.
Thursday morning, Rocky Hanna and Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil reflected on the tragedy in South Florida.
Administrators from Fairview Middle School and other district officials stood behind them as the superintendent explained plans to reassess strategies in cases like the one in Parkland. He said the district wants to provide students who are expelled every opportunity to earn an education.
"We don't just put a kid on the streets to look towards guns and violence. We have an alternative school where they can still continue their path academically and then earn their way back -- or earn the privilege back to a mainstream school or graduate from an alternative school," said Superintendent Hanna. "I'm proud to say -- and that school operates in the red. I mean, we commit resources to provide opportunities as opposed to putting kids on the street.
So far this school year, the district has had 35 active shooter training sessions at schools with the Leon County Sheriff's Office. In fact, on Thursday, there were prescheduled drills at Deerlake Middle School and Buck Lake Elementary School.
Hanna also said this is the first year the district has had mental health counselor at all of its middle and high schools. It's through a partnership with DISC Village.
