FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Alberto Estrena and Jenna Williams were among the concerned parents who attended the School Board of Broward County members’ workshop on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale to discuss the future of a new list of schools over the district’s lower enrollment.

The schools under consideration include six elementary schools —Lloyd Estates, Oakridge, Banyan, Coral Springs, Dolphin Bay, and Hollywood Park — and three middle schools — Forest Glen, Walter C. Young, and William E. Dandy.

“Please keep Hollywood Park open,” Entrena said during the meeting. “It’s where I live; I live three blocks away from the school, and many, many kids need this ... You are closing down an A-rated school to push kids into a C and B-rated school.”

Broward County Superintendent Howard Hepburn reported that enrollment had dropped by about 11,000 students during the start of the 2026-27 academic year.

“Parents want to know if you close a school then what happens next,” Williams said. “What improvements will our children see? Leadership, where will their teachers go?”

Hepburn said there were more than 60,000 empty seats across Broward County Public Schools.

“We can no longer afford to fund these empty seats as enrollment continues to decline,” Hepburn said.

Related document: “Redefining Our Schools” presentation

Debra Hixon, the school board’s countywide at-large member, said Hollywood Park had 26 additional students. Adam Cervera, the school board member who represents District 6, referred to a state law that requires school districts to allow the usage of “underused, vacant, or surplus” facilities.

“It’s a crucial fact for everybody on this board to have a full understanding of how many of these 10 schools would be potentially eligible for that admin role with the School of Hope for a charter school to be able to come in,” Cervera said.

The Florida Department of Education designates “Schools of Hope,” specialized public charter schools, run by “Hope Operators,” non-profit organizations.

The state’s six “Hope Operators” are Mater Academy, RCMA, IDEA Public Schools, Success Academy, Renaissance/Warrington Preparatory Academy, and KIPP New Jersey.