Broward County Public Schools, the 6th-largest school system in the country, was preparing for students to return to classrooms on Aug. 11.
Superintendent Howard Hepburn said there will be additional security measures and new requirements for teachers and staff.
“All of our staff members will be wearing a cross alert badge, so you don’t have to worry about pulling out your cellphone if you don’t need to,” Hepburn said on Thursday.
Hepburn said he is excited about the new artificial intelligence tools that will be available at the public schools.
“It’s going to help us be more efficient as an organization, it’s going to help our teachers utilize their time wisely, helping them with lesson planning ... for our students to increase their capabilities of learning in our classroom,” Hepburn said.
While breakfast at the schools’ cafeteria is free for students, lunch won’t be.
“We are reverting back to a program ... You have to fill out an application to determine your eligibility to see if you can get free or reduced lunch,” Hepburn said.
Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach and William Dandy Middle School in Fort Lauderdale will have new health clinics.
“We want to make sure that there is an area in the community where we can service our kids’ needs where there may be a health care desert,” Hepburn said.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the third-largest district in the country, was also preparing for the new year with new tools and services related to artificial intelligence.
A district-wide audit will evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the new AI integrations. Last year, the AI magnet programs opened at Southwest Miami Senior High School and Miami Edison Senior High School.
Superintendent Jose Dotres said parents need to visit the schools to meet their teachers and principal before the first day of class on Aug. 14.
“If you have not registered, do it early,” Dotres said. “Don’t wait until the last minute.”
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