PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. — With the first day of school in Broward County just days away, teachers at Silver Palms Elementary in Pembroke Pines are putting the finishing touches on their classrooms.
But this year, they are prepping for more than just a new group of students.
“We’ve been preparing for this all summer long,” Irina Shearer, the principal of Silver Palms Elementary, said. “Right now, for us it’s the last last-minute touches.”
Under Broward’s “Redefining Our Schools” plan, Silver Palms will now welcome about 50 new students from Panther Run Elementary, one of six schools closed this year as the district consolidates campuses because of declining enrollment.
“We really want to make sure we’re embracing the families that are coming from Panther Run,” Shearer said. “One of my teachers is making a banner, their mascot was a Panther, we are the Dolphins, and really just showcasing those two schools coming together.”
District leaders say the goal is to make the transition as smooth as possible.
“I think it’s fresh energy,” Kristin Kavanaugh, a third-grade teacher at Silver Palms Elementary, said. “We’ve got new parents, new kids. I have a few more students in my class than I’m used to having. I have about seven kids coming from the other school.”
Educators like Dina Linero, who teaches music, say they have been planning for months, knowing their classroom rosters will look a little longer this fall.
“There is a little more prep involved this year, just because there’s more instruments we received from another school,” Linero said.
The closures are part of a larger district effort to address thousands of empty classroom seats.
Last year, the district closed just one. This year, six campuses were consolidated or repurposed.
Because of that, for some students, the first day of class will also be their first day at a new campus.
Teachers here say their biggest goal is making sure every student feels welcome on day one.
“My staff and I really took our time building these classes. And what we did is when we built the classes, it’s really important to make sure they’re with a friend, so those new students are with other Panther Run students,” Shearer said.
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