Parkland students hold walkout after school reassigns staffers following probe

Dozens of students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., held a walkout on Tuesday to protest the school’s decision to reassign four staffers in the wake of an investigation into the February mass shooting there.

{mosads}More than 50 teachers protested outside the school on Tuesday morning, a local NBC affiliate reported. Teachers chanted “Bring them back” and carried signs that read, “Don’t revictimize us.”

The protest was later followed by students staging a walkout. Footage shows scores of students leaving the premises of the school.

#DEVELOPING: Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are holding a walkout a day after three assistant principals and one security specialists were reassigned.
DETAILS: https://t.co/mgpvmFvFG6 pic.twitter.com/t1Mk9flfnc

— NBC 6 South Florida (@nbc6) November 27, 2018

Broward County Public Schools on Monday announced that three assistant principals and a security specialist would be reassigned following a probe into the shooting, which left 17 students and faculty dead. 

No explanation was given for the reassignments. The decision came after investigators released their findings on the mass shooting to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission. A full interim report from the commission is expected in January.

“Based on information presented during the Commission meeting, four Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School staff members are being reassigned to other BCPS administrative locations,” Broward County Public School (BCPS) said in a statement.

“BCPS is examining material received from the Commission to review the response by staff to the tragedy and preceding events. Evaluation will also be used to improve school safety and services to students,” it added.

Multiple students had reportedly told the commission that they had complained about the suspected shooter, Nikolas Cruz, before he opened fire at the school in February.

Cruz has been charged with 17 counts of murder and 17 counts of attempted murder. He pleaded not guilty in March. 

Each of the reassigned staffers said they were not told why the move was made, and alleged that it presented a violation of due process, according to the report.

USA Today reported that commissioners have also heard testimony regarding confusion among the school’s leadership both during and after the shooting.