JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — School may be out for the holidays, but Duval County Public School leaders are busy reviewing possible security gaps at one of its schools.
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Action News Jax Investigates obtained an email that read, “It is terrifying that seemingly anyone can gain access to our campus if they have an ID on a lanyard.”
The email is from Board Member Melody Bolduc to Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier and board members. It detailed two separate cases of violence at Mandarin High School.
Action News Jax reported last week an Ed White High School student was able to get onto the Mandarin campus using another student’s ID card. That’s where the teen ambushed another student outside a classroom.
READ: It’s a problem in schools:’ Gang-related fight breaks out at Mandarin High School
“The district has spent a lot of time and money and effort to secure our campuses and buses. So, looking, as a district, what are the holes in our security? It’s an ongoing investigation,” Bolduc told Action News Jax’s Robert Grant.
Now we’re learning about a second case. According to an email, earlier this month two Atlantic Coast High School students boarded a school bus to Mandarin High and snuck onto campus where a fight broke out over stolen weed.
“Both of these incidents occurred the same way and have revealed chinks in our armor that we must secure,” Bolduc said in the email. “It has been confirmed by several students that they or their friends have utilized each other’s IDs to bypass the system.”
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In response to Bolduc’s request for information, Superintendent Dr. Bernier said school officers immediately recognized the kids didn’t belong on the campus and broke up the fight.
Action News Jax asked the district what’s being done to prevent this from happening again and what security measures are in place to ensure students are on the proper bus.
In response, a representative said, “The email you received was an extensive request from a school board member to the superintendent. The request is being researched, and the superintendent will respond to the board at the appropriate time and in the appropriate setting.”
Bolduc assured parents the district is on top of it and board members are in the process of scheduling a meeting about school security.
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