In the last courtesy inspection done by the Miami Beach Fire Department, in January 1999, officials found several violations on the campus, said Fire Marshal Russell White. The most egregious, locked gates on the property, was quickly corrected, he said. But because inspectors can't force the district to make immediate corrections, White said he didn't know whether other problems were fixed. Some of those violations included missing building evacuation diagrams, nonworking and missing fire extinguishers and improperly stored flammable liquids. The fire department will conduct its next inspection, now required by the new law, later this month, White said.
Some students say they are aware of the deteriorating conditions in the school.
A few have creatively expressed their frustration. Aubrey Koenig, another senior, said most students are more concerned with having to wear identification tags and staying on campus at lunchtime. They have learned to deal with some of the more dismal physical conditions, he said. Avoiding some of the student bathrooms is one tactic. Herald staff writers Jasmine Kripalani and Robert Sanchez contributed to this report.