Education Secretary Outscored By Dwyane Wade At Parkland School

PARKLAND, FL — Calling her visit "very sobering and very inspiring," Education Secretary and Michigan billionaire Betsy DeVos toured Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday three weeks after a gunman killed 17 students and faculty members in Building 12 of the affluent Broward County campus. She insisted that it is an "oversimplification and mischaracterization" to refer to president Trump's plan to protect schools as simply arming teachers. While they don't get many visits from White House cabinet members, the students seemed much more elated over a surprise visit by Miami Heat legend Dwyane Wade.

Both visits came on the same day that students settled into their first full day of classes since the horrific shooting that also left 16 people wounded.

It was also the same day that a grand jury in Broward County formally charged accused gunman and expelled student Nikolas Cruz with 17 counts of murder and numerous counts of attempted first-degree murder. Cruz’s public defender has said he will plead guilty if prosecutors take the death penalty off the table, which would mean a life prison sentence. Prosecutors have 45 days to decide whether they want to seek the death penalty.

James and Kimberly Snead, the couple who gave Cruz a home after his mother died late last year, testified before the grand jury. James Snead and the couple’s attorney, Jim Lewis, wore silver “17” pins to honor the victims of the shooting.

"I heard a variety of things from the students that I spoke with," DeVos later told reporters at a news conference. "Some of them are doing quite well. But they all acknowledge that it’s a day-to-day situation. For students who were actually in the building involved, it’s very tough."

DeVos said she spoke with a small group of students who were having a particularly difficult time adjusting after the shooting. She noted the presence of a number of comfort dogs around campus.

"When I asked them ... if any of them have had opportunity to connect with the dogs, all of their faces lit up in an amazing way," according to DeVos.

The secretary didn't offer specifics on the types of changes she would support to make America's schools safer in the wake of the deadliest school shooting since a gunman opened fire in Sandy Hook Elementary School other than to point to initiatives already mentioned by President Trump. She said that it would be up to each community to set standards for school employees who would carry concealed guns if they opt to go that route.

"Let’s be clear: I think ... to say 'arming teachers' is an oversimplification and a mischaracterization," DeVos explained. "I think the concept is to — for those schools and those communities that opt to do this as they have in Texas and as they have in Polk County and other places around the country — to have people who are expert in being able to defend and having lots and lots of training in order to do so."

Jail records released by the Broward Sheriff’s Office show Cruz was being held in solitary confinement. Officers described Cruz as avoiding eye contact with deputies but also being cooperative and engaged with his visitors. The report said Cruz “often sits with a blank stare,” asked for a Bible to read and appeared to be “smiling and giggling” during one visit with his attorneys. Investigators and psychiatrists also have visited Cruz in his single-person cell in the jail’s infirmary, where officers note his activities every 15 minutes.
His brother visited him twice, along with Rocxanne Deschamps, who took in both teens after their mother died in November. Cruz lived with Deschamps only briefly before moving in with the Sneads.

A number of professional athletes, and Wade in particular, have been a source of comfort to the students since the tragedy.

The newly returned Miami Heat player was so moved after learning that one of the 17 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting victims was buried in Wades's #3 jersey that the basketball legend dedicated the rest of his season to 17-year-old Joaquin Oliver, who had been ecstatic over Wade's recent return to Miami.

Wade reportedly spent hours at the school discussing his experience growing up around gun violence in the Chicago area and how he might use his NBA platform to help the Stoneman Douglas students spread their message.

"I just had a great conversation with some of the students at Stoneman Douglas High School about some important/impactful things that they have planned," Wade said later on Twitter. "I’m looking forward to being more involved in the change that they WILL create. #MSDStrong."

There's no question that Wade's visit was a welcome surprise.

"Thx @DwyaneWade for casually dropping by our school and causing a stampede in the cafeteria," tweeted Diego Pfeiffer, who also posted a photo of Wade's visit. "An interesting lunch to be sure, thank you for your support!"

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos exits after speaking to the news during a press conference held at the Heron Bay Marriott about her visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images.