FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Broward School Board members were set to vote Wednesday on a plan to close seven schools and change some boundaries in response to student enrollment decreases that prompted budget concerns.

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During a regular public meeting, the school board members considered Superintendent Howard Hepburn‘s proposed 11 changes after the “Redefining Our Schools” initiative, which included public meetings.

“We have to reduce our footprint because we have fewer students. It has nothing to do with how amazing our students are,” said Debra Hixon, one of two countywide school board members.

Before 5 p.m., the school board had voted to close four elementary schools and had yet to consider three more: Two middle schools and a high school.

“If they have existing programs ... those programs will follow the students,” Hepburn said about concerns that the students’ moving out of closing schools would lose their progress.

SCHOOL CLOSURES

Through agenda item MM-1, the school board voted to consolidate two elementary schools in Miramar.

The district will repurpose Sunshine Elementary School, at 7737 La Salle Boulevard, and transfer Sunshine students to Fairway Elementary School, at 7850 Fairway Boulevard.

There are also several changes for elementary school students in Pembroke Pines.

Through agenda item MM-2, the school board voted to close Panther Run Elementary School, at 801 NW 172 Ave., in Pembroke Pines.

Panther Run students will transfer to Chapel Trail Elementary School, at 19595 Taft St., and Silver Palms Elementary School, at 1209 NW 155th Ave.

Through item MM-3, the school board voted to repurpose Palm Cove Elementary School, at 11601 Washington St., in Pembroke Pines.

Palm Cove students will transfer to Lakeside Elementary School, at 900 NW 136th Ave., and Pines Lakes Elementary School, at 10300 Johnson St.

The changes will also impact elementary school students in Fort Lauderdale.

Through item MM-4, the school board also voted to repurpose North Fork Elementary School, at 101 NW 15 Ave.

The district will be transferring North Folk students to four elementary schools: Croissant Park, at 1800 SW 4 Ave.; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., at 591 NW 31st Ave.; Thurgood Marshall, at 800 NW 13th St.; and Walker, at 1001 NW 4 St.

Through item MM-7, the school board was set to vote on closing Bair Middle School, at 9100 NW 21 Manor, in Sunrise, and transferring students to Westpine Middle School at 9393 NW 50 St., in Sunrise.

Jeff Holness, the school board member who represents District 5, asked his colleagues to keep Bair open. Anna Fusco, the president of the teachers’ union, said there was a plan to help Bair grow.

“I don’t see how any city is going to operate with just one middle school,” Fusco said about Sunrise.

The school board had yet to vote on the future of two more schools: Plantation Middle School, at 6600 West Sunrise Boulevard; and Seagull Alternative High School, at 425 SW 28 St., in Fort Lauderdale.

BOUNDARY CHANGES

The school board also plans to consider the possibility of boundary changes at a few middle and high schools.

Walter C. Young Middle School’s boundary would be shifted west of Interstate 75 to Silver Trail Middle School.

Charles W. Flanagan High School would shift west of I-75. Broward High School and Hallandale High School would shift west of Interstate 95 to Miramar High School. The last school board workshop was on Dec. 8.

The district’s plan is to implement the changes next school year.

This is a developing story.

Related documents

Agenda item MM-1: Sunshine Elementary School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-1 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-2: Panther Run Elementary School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-2 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-3: Palm Cove Elementary School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-3 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-4: North Fork Elementary School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-4 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-6: Plantation Middle School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-6 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-7: Blair Middle School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Boundary recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-7 response (.PDF)

Agenda item MM-11: Seagull Alternative High School

• Executive summary (.PDF)
• Hepburn’s recommendation memo (.PDF)
• Usage recommendation (.PDF)
• Explanation of estimated financial impact (.PDF)
• MM-11 response (.PDF)

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