3 Broward schools would close under proposed plan to address low enrollment

Broward County Public Schools on Monday presented the schools that would undergo changes to address the issue of under-enrollment in the district.

At a town hall meeting, school leaders heard from parents, teachers, and other community members concerned about how potential closures would impact their neighborhoods.

Under the proposed plan, three schools would close: Olsen Middle in Dania Beach, Oakridge Elementary in Hollywood and Broward Estates Elementary in Lauderhill.

"We’re very extremely shocked," said Julie Burger-Shannon, an ESE specialist at Oakridge Elementary, who works with students with special education needs. "We have a huge impact on the community and just for families to hear that they can no longer possibly go to their neighborhood school ... after all this information comes out will be disappointed as well."

Three schools are being considered for grade reconfiguration: Pines Middle, Hollywood Central Elementary and Sunland Park Academy.

Three more schools were named to be a part of a public-private partnership: Quiet Waters Elementary, Deerfield Beach Elementary and Tedder Elementary.

Several schools would face boundary changes, including Silver Palms Elementary, Silver Lakes Elementary, Collins Elementary, Mary M. Bethune Elementary, Stirling Elementary, Hollywood Hills Elementary, Colbert Elementary, Attucks Middle, McNicol Middle, Plantation Elementary, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Montessori Academy, Thurgood Marshall Academy, Westwood Heights Elementary, Sunland Park Academy, North Side Elementary, Walker Elementary, Virginia Shuman Young Elementary and Harbordale Elementary.

The district also presented another plan, named "Total District Realignment," that would close 42 schools. The plan would eliminate excess seats districtwide, redraw school boundaries and eliminate magnet programs, among others. This plan was not recommended by newly appointed Superintendent Howard Hepburn.

Right now, there are about 50,000 empty seats across the district. At first, the goal was to repurpose at least five schools.

Hepburn said no matter which schools are closed, there will be disappointment.

"These are tough decisions that affects families, that affect real people and definitely affects our kids and our staff," he said.

The district plans to hold six more community town halls. More info can be found here.

The board expects to vote on the plan in June. The earliest change won't happen until the 2025-26 school year.