TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland last week, Governor Scott said that he would be quickly organizing meetings with state and local leaders to discuss ways to keep Florida students safe, including school safety improvements and keeping guns away from individuals struggling with mental illness. Tomorrow, February 20th, Governor Scott has organized state and local leaders to meet for workshops at the Florida Department of Education (DOE), the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Florida Sheriffs Association. These groups will consist of members of law enforcement, school administrators, teachers, mental health experts, and state agency leadership. Governor Scott will be attending these workshops throughout the day and will hold a roundtable to discuss their findings at the end of the day.
All meetings will address the following:
- The education workshop will focus on school safety improvements and updating school security protocols and emergency plans.
- The mental health and child welfare workshop will focus on ways to expand mental health services for Floridians, especially students, and improve coordination between state, local and private behavioral health partners.
- The law enforcement workshop will focus on ensuring individuals struggling from mental illness do not have access to guns and potential safety improvements for firearm policies.
Governor Scott said, “I have spent the last week in Parkland talking to members of the community, students and families of the victims who are suffering following this horrific shooting. While there are only three weeks left of the legislative session, we must make changes to keep students safe. A tragedy like what occurred in Broward County must never happen again and swift action is needed now. I am bringing local and state leaders together to find solutions on how to prevent violence in our schools and keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill individuals. This is an urgent matter that we must address quickly.”
These meetings are not open to the public, but will be live-streamed by the Florida Channel at www.thefloridachannel.org. A website will be provided to submit public input.
WHAT: Workshop with education officials
WHEN: 10:00AM -12:00PM; 2:00PM – 4:00PM
WHERE: Florida Department of Education
325 W Gaines St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
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WHAT: Workshop with child welfare advocates and behavioral health leaders
WHEN: 9:00AM -11:00AM; 2:00PM – 4:00PM
WHERE: Florida Department of Children and Families
1317 Winewood Blvd.
Tallahassee, FL 32399
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WHAT: Workshop with Florida’s law enforcement community
WHEN: 10:00AM -12:00PM; 2:00PM – 4:00PM
WHERE: Florida Sheriffs Association
2617 Mahan Dr.
Tallahassee, FL 32308