By Lois K. Solomon

South Florida Sun Sentinel

PARKLAND, Fla. —A new era opened at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Wednesday, the first day back at school after summer break.

For many students, the tragedy that struck the school on Feb. 14, when a shooter killed 17 students and teachers, loomed heavily as they entered their campus. Police officers directed traffic and ensured no strangers came close to the school while helicopters loomed overhead.

After a summer of trying to hire school police officers and adding new fences, gates, alarms and security cameras, Broward schools still face an abundance of security issues as the school year begins. Students will notice a heavy police presence on many campuses.

There are 18 personnel on the Stoneman Douglas campus each day: Three school police officers provided by the city and the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and 15 campus monitors and security specialists provided by the school district.

Similar security measures are being implemented at schools throughout the district. On the first day of school, students and parents will notice school access points have changed at 135 of Broward’s 230 schools, with only one way to get in, usually through the main office.

For the first time at Stoneman Douglas, security staff checked student IDs and examined the insides of student backpacks, Superintendent Robert Runcie said. But he said the screenings did not cause significant backups as students arrived Wednesday morning.

Runcie called Wednesday “a bittersweet day,” with students happy to be back at school but still anxious about the horrible day in February.

Mason Wark, 14, a freshman, said he is excited to start high school in spite of all the security talk. He said the school’s freshman orientation lacked any discussion of policing issues.

“They tried to make us not think about it,” he said. “It was pretty easy to get on my middle school campus. They weren’t really checking anyone. I trust they are going to amp security up now.”

Sean McHenry, 14, also a freshman, said he also was not concerned about security, although the heavy police presence could not let him forget about it.

“There are fences everywhere and cops swarming,” McHenry said. “The school looks like a prison. But it actually makes me feel better to know I don’t have to worry about it.”