Broward School Board sticks with plan to close 10 schools - Sun Sentinel

The Broward County School Board held a four-hour workshop on Tuesday to review Superintendent Howard Hepburn's proposal to close 10 low-enrollment schools and move their students to schools with more room. Parents and community members filled the district headquarters hoping to save their schools. Board members made no final decisions, but the article says their discussion pointed toward moving ahead with the current plan, possibly with some changes.

The district has already closed seven schools over the past two years because of declining enrollment, which has reduced revenue and left about 70,000 empty seats. The proposal lists nine schools by name, plus Hollywood Park Elementary. At board members' request, the district also offered an alternative of closing Sheridan Park Elementary instead. Only one of the two is expected to close, and some say that has set the two communities against each other. A Sheridan Park teacher and a Hollywood parent leader both spoke against the approach, with the parent calling the process flawed. Feedback at September community meetings was mostly negative, with concerns about distance, safety and academics. Some Miramar parents oppose converting Glades Middle into a K-8.

The proposal goes to a district boundary committee on Oct. 26. Hepburn plans final recommendations in November, and the board would decide Dec. 15 under the current timeline. Closures would start with the 2027-28 school year. The public will get at least two more chances to comment.