A handful of students from Stoneman Douglas High School were elevated by the national media because they were quick to call for gun control and attack the NRA, but this effort has distracted from looking closer to home for answers to a shooting that claimed 17 lives.
The media has shown little interest in accurately reporting on a failure to keep the students safe, but a local student journalist, Kenneth Preston, has made a damning case against Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie and the school board — only to be met with attempts to intimidate and silence him.
Preston took advantage of social media to shine a light on this campaign, sharing a video of his remarks before the Broward County School Board — Preston’s effort has resulted in a ton of accolades online.
That a 19-year-old student journalist pulled this feat off should be a source of shame for the “professionals.”
“Parkland parents, students, I went to the Broward School Board to seek answers for the potential negligence by Superintendent and Board prior to the tragedy at Stoneman,” the caption read. “Instead of addressing our concerns, they prevented us from speaking.”
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662094957129729
In a series of tweets, Preston shared a comprehensive report exposing that over $100 million in school safety funds have gone unspent since 2014. He also highlighted an agreement between the school board and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office that keeps violent students — such as the gunman who opened fire at the school — out of jail.
This information coming on the same day the Broward County Sheriff’s union cast an overwhelming no-confidence vote against Sheriff Scott Israel, 534 – 94, according to the Sun-Sentinel.
The program lowered student arrests “by reshaping school discipline,” Preston said, placing troubled students into “rehabilitation programs” instead of jail.
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662098308452354
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662100246224896
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662104541155328
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662106416046080
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662109528096768
13) This agreement was part of an effort to lower student arrests by reshaping school discipline. As a result, troubled students who previously would have been reported to police are now entered into “rehabilitation programs.” Within years, Broward’s arrest rate plummeted. pic.twitter.com/d2JptAlPBW
— Kenneth Preston (@kennethrpreston) April 27, 2018
14) Even if students aren’t enrolled in these programs, school admins aren’t required to report potentially dangerous students to law enforcement. The current discipline matrix gives administration complete discretion to decide “appropriate consequences” for student misbehavior. pic.twitter.com/YtoI4VEPJI
— Kenneth Preston (@kennethrpreston) April 27, 2018
Preston presents recent examples of how these progressive programs leave students at great risk.
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662118298509312
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662121184067589
With Preston exposing the rank hypocrisy of some of the board members, it’s more understandable why they are not eager to give him a voice.
19) Board Member @ReverendRos went as far as to suggest that our inquiry into these concerns was an exploitation of bloodshed for “personal gain”. She’s the same board member who removed her kids from the school district over “safety concerns.” pic.twitter.com/on4nIjn5vZ
— Kenneth Preston (@kennethrpreston) April 27, 2018
And in his conclusion, the 19-year-old student journalist makes it clear the gunman alone is responsible for his actions, but that does not absolve local officials for their own failings.
Preston pointed out that “there hasn’t been a single change in leadership.” He also makes it clear that he is not finished.
https://twitter.com/kennethrpreston/status/989662125953110016
The impressive reporting earned the praise of Hunter Pollack, who lost his sister, Meadow, in the February shooting.
Pollack joined the call for real accountability.
“My good friend @kennethrpreston just showed the world that our Sheriff and @RobertwRuncie do not put the safety of students first. Policy that allows violent students to stay in school cost 17 lives, and can potentially cause more lives to be taken. REPEAL THEM #FIXIT.”
https://twitter.com/PollackHunter/status/989670686057693184
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Tom@bizpacreview.com
The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
- With inflation dipping, Lutnick predicts ‘extraordinary year’ ahead - December 19, 2025
- Criminal lowlife, 26, captured on surveillance video abducting young girl inside VA mall - August 1, 2025
- Chris Cuomo admits he’s been ‘wrong’ about pretty much everything - August 1, 2025
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!
