‘Safer Spaces’ Implemented in Dozens of Classrooms at Marjory Stoneman Douglas During Winter Break

By: Sharon Aron Baron

During winter break, designated areas to gather or take cover in the event of a code red emergency were painted in dozens of classrooms at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said Principal Ty Thompson.

Safer spaces – also known as hard corners, are now in six buildings after being recommended by the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.

In a message to Coral Springs and Parkland parents, Thompson said that staff worked with the Broward Sheriff’s Office to evaluate the classrooms individually – and adapt hard corners to meet each room’s unique physical features. The new hard corners are identified by a graphic that is painted red to be consistent with the code red warning. 

This week, they will be getting feedback from the students, teachers and staff about the design, color, size and position of the proposed graphic, prior to full implementation at the school. As they move through this process, spaces around the graphic may require that furniture, fixtures, posters and other items will have to be moved.

The 234 schools which are part of Broward County Public Schools include more than 20,000 classrooms. The implementation of hard corners in all schools throughout the District is scheduled to be completed by the end of February 2019.