The Florida high school where 17 people were killed in a mass shooting may be torn down and turned into a memorial, district officials have said.

Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie told the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the district has proposed demolishing the building on campus where a former student allegedly opened fire earlier this week.

“Parents and students have resoundingly told me they can’t go back into that building regardless of what we do,” Mr Runcie said.

The building may also be used as evidence in legal proceedings, the superintendent added, meaning it would not be available for use in the near future. He said the district eventually plans to build a memorial on the land.

Any proposals for the building must be approved and funded by the School Board and the state, Mr Runcie said. Florida Governor Rick Scott has already promised state funding to aid in the investigation and help the community recover.

The challenge now will be finding somewhere to house the 900 students who took classes in the building. The school itself is at capacity, as are many other schools in the district, according to the Sun Sentinel.

Florida shooting – in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting – in pictures Florida shooting – in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting – in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting – in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting – in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting – in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting – in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting – in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting – in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP

Fourteen students and three staff members were killed on Wednesday when police say a former student carried an AR-15 rifle and multiple magazines of ammunition into the south Florida school. Among those killed were a 14-year-old girl and an assistant football coach who reportedly threw himself in front of students to protect them.

Suspect Nikolas Cruz, a 19-year-old who was previously expelled from the school, has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. He has yet to enter a plea.

The sites of previous school shootings have also been torn down, and in some cases memorialised. After the Columbine shooting, the library where most of the carnage occurred was replaced with an atrium.