In line with a Sun Sentinel report, metropolis leaders in Parkland and Margate are weighing whether or not to open constitution colleges or convert present public colleges as Broward County Public Faculties strikes ahead with plans to shut and consolidate under-enrolled campuses.
– Commercial –
Parkland officers lately launched a feasibility examine to discover their choices, with Mayor Wealthy Walker saying a report is anticipated by this fall. “I believe it’s prudent for us to simply weigh our choices,” Walker instructed the Solar Sentinel. Although Parkland’s colleges are at the moment full and extremely rated, metropolis leaders are eyeing future progress, particularly with almost 800 acres of undeveloped land alongside Loxahatchee Street.
Constitution colleges, in contrast to district-run colleges, should not topic to state restrictions that forestall new building in areas the place classroom seats can be found elsewhere within the county.
In Margate, Commissioner Tommy Ruzzano is pushing for the town to take management of its instructional future by bringing in an out of doors constitution operator, comparable to Constitution Faculties USA. He raised considerations concerning the faculty district’s long-term plans and criticized its dealing with of a 2014 bond referendum, which he says left some colleges in disrepair. Ruzzano has additionally questioned the district’s curiosity in rezoning land close to Margate Elementary for reasonably priced housing, probably for lecturers. “They need to do reasonably priced housing for the lecturers as a result of they don’t pay the lecturers sufficient,” he stated at a June 18 fee assembly. “I believe that is completely ridiculous.”
The latest push comes after a brand new state regulation took impact on July 1, making it simpler for municipalities to open their very own constitution colleges or convert district campuses. Beforehand, conversion constitution colleges required majority votes from each mother and father and lecturers. Now, solely a majority vote from collaborating mother and father is required.
The curiosity from cities comes as Broward schools grapple with declining enrollment — the district has misplaced over 50,000 college students within the final 20 years and is carrying greater than 45,000 empty seats.
Margate Mayor Arlene Schwartz, a former Broward trainer and administrator, stated she’s hesitant to compete with the district. Nonetheless, she later stated she may help making a constitution highschool, since Margate college students at the moment attend excessive colleges outdoors metropolis limits.
Whereas Coral Springs and Pembroke Pines already function city-run constitution colleges, each cities instructed the Solar Sentinel they haven’t any plans to broaden. College Board member Allen Zeman warned that small city-run programs may result in inefficiencies and better prices.
