Broward Superintendent Calls For Parents To Be Held Accountable For Threats

Broward County, FL - A school board member is proposing holding parents accountable if their child makes threats of violence towards South Florida school.

The Broward County Public School board discussed calling for parents to be held accountable for their children's actions following a series of recent threats made towards several South Florida schools.

Superintendent Howard Hepburn emphasized that threats against schools, whether in person or online, are taken seriously and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“Threats against our schools, whether in person or online, are absolutely unacceptable and will be taken very seriously,” Hepburn said. “We've reviewed protocols with law enforcement and will prosecute any threats to the fullest extent of the law."

Hepburn highlighted the case of a 14-year-old girl who was arrested over the weekend for making threats against multiple schools.

Board Member Debbi Hixon, whose husband was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting, suggested that parents should bear the financial cost of police response for such threats.

"Students need to understand the consequences of their actions," Hixon said. "If the current penalties aren't impactful, maybe charging parents for the police response will make a difference. We have to explore new solutions."

Hixon argued that this could serve as a deterrent and emphasize the seriousness of the consequences.

Hepburn and other officials reiterated the importance of taking school threats seriously and holding individuals accountable.