A big lower in enrollment at Broward County Public Faculties (BCPS) has the district contemplating “powerful selections,” together with the attainable closure of some establishments.
In accordance with BCPS Superintendent Peter Licata, faculties with low enrollment are costing Broward County an estimated $2 million to maintain open.
The district has about 60,000 empty seats, with enrollment down by 3,000 college students this yr, Licata mentioned throughout a college tour this week. One of many causes, he believes, is that many households have moved out of the county as a consequence of property values being too excessive.
Licata mentioned Broward Faculties doesn’t have the price range to maintain funding under-enrolled faculties.
“We’re in a superb place. Nevertheless it’s going to be a tough path just because nobody likes to listen to this stuff however it’s time to vary,” Licata mentioned.
“We don’t have any cash and we want to ensure we’re not writing checks we are able to’t money. … There may be loads of good things happening. We simply don’t have the price range anymore to endure a lack of hundreds and hundreds of children yearly.”
Plans for repurposing faculties
Licata mentioned the county is contemplating all choices because it pertains to repurposing the faculties, and desires to have a plan in place by the beginning of the following college yr.
A number of choices are on the desk, together with altering the grade ranges, like turning a conventional elementary college right into a Ok-8 heart; altering the kind of college, reminiscent of including magnet applications; or sectioning off elements of the campus for housing.
“Possibly it’s an house type and in addition small housing developments in addition to townhouses,” Licata mentioned. “We’ve got loads of nice concepts with that from different firms which have been in that enterprise.”
A part of the decision-making will contain Broward County residents and oldsters, who will get to state their opinions throughout city corridor conferences throughout the county. He needs to tout all choices outdoors of closures.
“The whole lot’s on the desk, however nothing’s being pushed ahead till we meet with these communities,” he mentioned.
There shall be three to 4 city corridor conferences for households to attend, nevertheless, they haven’t been scheduled but.
In accordance with The Solar Sentinel, among the many faculties which can be under-enrolled by greater than 600 college students are Tamarac Elementary, McNicol Center in Hollywood, and Boyd H. Anderson Excessive in Lauderdale Lakes.
The faculties brief by greater than 900 college students embrace Coral Springs Center and Stranahan Excessive in Fort Lauderdale; Parkway Center in Lauderhill is under-enrolled by greater than 1,000 college students.
Learn: BCPS Lecturers Say College students That Have Failed Lessons As a result of COVID-19 Ought to be Retained