Superintendent Hepburn Visits J.P. Taravella, Addresses Challenges on First Day of School

[caption id="attachment_52575" align="alignnone" width="800"] School Board Vice-Chair Debbi Hixon, Chair Lori Alhadeff, Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn, Principal Marietta DeArmas and Todd LaPace, director of teaching and learning for the North Area. {David Volz}[/caption]

Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn celebrated the first day by visiting several schools, including J.P. Taravella.

Hepburn received a tour of some of the classrooms led by Principal Marietta DeArmas. They were joined by school board members Lori Alhadeff and Debbi Hixon. Hepburn talked with teachers and students and offered encouragement for the upcoming year.

“It is the first day of school, and the kids are excited. We had some hiccups, and everyone is getting used to new policies,” said Hixon.

Alhadeff said, “It is good that we are back to school, and I think Hepburn is doing an amazing job.”

Hepburn was upbeat as he walked through J.P. Taravella and smiled as he spoke with students. “I am excited that we are back to school,” he said.

According to Hepburn, the metal detectors encountered some challenges on their first day of use. He said the metal detectors were suspended at Coral Springs High School because of delays, but he expects the problems to be corrected.

There were some delays of up to 35 minutes here, and eventually, the process will be more efficient, and there won’t be as many problems,” he said.

Hepburn said students and parents should be better prepared to pass through the metal detectors. “Students need to have their laptops and metal items out of their backpacks,” he said.

According to Hepburn, the new cell phone policy is good. “I want children to talk to one another and not focus on their cellphones,” he said.

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Author Profile

David Volz

David Volz has worked as a writer in South Florida for 35 years. He has written for the Sun-Sentinel, Hollywood Gazette, School Transportation News, South Dade News Leaders, Observer among others. He has an MA in Communications from Florida Atlantic University and a BA in Communications from Valparaiso University. Volz teaches Communications at Miami Dade College and Palm Beach State College. He lives in Coral Springs and enjoys running and participating in 5Ks and half-marathons.

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