New plan: Broward won’t close any schools. But changes are still coming
After many voices were raised in protest against Broward County’s closing public schools to address student underenrollment, the school district now says it’s not planning to close any.
But Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn’s new recommendations, which are to be discussed at a “School Board Workshop” on Tuesday, do not leave all schools unaffected.
“Following community input, Superintendent Hepburn has revised his considerations for the Board on redefining BCPS,” BCPS Chief Communiations Officer John J. Sullivan said in a Friday night statement. “School closures are no longer proposed at this stage. Instead, he will recommend grade and program reconfigurations, explore partnerships and sell property to regain students and bolster capital reserves.
“He will continue assessing BCPS with community feedback to shape the next phase of redefining our schools.”
The two plans released to the public in April involved shrinking the number of available seats by closing 42 unnamed schools (32 elementary, eight middle, two high schools). But under the plan, Broward public school students and parents stood to lose magnet programs, school choice or reassignments.
The other plan involved closing Olsen Middle School in Dania Beach, Broward Estates Elementary in Lauderhill and Oakridge Elementary in Hollywood. The first two schools’ operated at less than half capacity. Oakridge carries a D state grade while operating in a building that, according to county property records, was constructed in 1967.
The city of Hollywood’s entire political power structure opposed Oakridge’s closing via resolution and a letter from City Manager George Keller that said, “The City would like to explore opportunities to strengthen this school and work in tandem with BCPS to come up with alternatives that preserve this campus.”
The new plan, according to what was put on the
BCPS website, alters schools in five groupings of high school zones.
Miramar Everglades High, Pembroke Pines Flanagan High, Pembroke Pines West Broward High group of zones: The boundaries will change for Silver Palms Elementary and Silver Lakes Elementary. Pines Middle School, which is operating at 34.5% of capacity, will house a middle school and high school. Silver Shores Elementary, which is at 44.6%, will be a full choice (any parent can apply there) elementary and middle school. Panther Run Elementary will take over a program run at Silver Shores Elementary.
Hallandale High, Hollywood Hills High and Hollywood South Broward High group of zones: Hollywood Central Elementary will go from 46% of capacity to 100% by becoming an elementary and middle school. A proposed boundary change would drop Olsen Middle
School from 49.6% to 42.9%.
Fort Lauderdale Dillard High and South Plantation High pair of zones: Sunland Park Academy, already at 91.7%, will have a grade reconfiguration and a boundary change. Thurgood Marshall Elementary, now at 43%, will have a boundary change that would increase enrollment to an estimated 53.9%.
Fort Lauderdale High and Fort Lauderdale Stranahan pair of zones: A program will be added to Bennett Elementary, now at 54.2% of capacity. North Side Elementary and Walker Elementary, at 47% and 52.8%, respectively, will get boundary changes expected to raise enrollment to 67.1% and 54.9%. North Fork Elementary will become a full choice school and is expected to go from 55.4% to 100% capacity.
Deerfield Beach High and Coconut Creek Monarch High pair of zones: Quiet Waters Elementary, Deerfield Beach Elementary and Tedder Elementary will be part of an undefined public-private partnership.
REAL ESTATE FOR SALE?
Among the places listed as “under consideration for repurposing, sale or lease” are the Broward County School Board’s headquarters at 600 SE Third Ave. and the Technology & Support Services Center Annex, 7720 W. Oakland Park Blvd.