Coral Springs City Commission on March 15, 2023.
By Bryan Boggiano
The Coral Springs city commission condemned the school board’s vote on Wednesday, making than 300 Coral Springs students previously zoned for Marjory Stoneman Douglas attend Coral Glades High School.
In a statement released Friday, the commission was highly disappointed in the school board’s actions before and after the first School Boundary Hearing regarding MSD rezoning.
To discuss the matter further, they scheduled a special city commission meeting on Tue., April 4, at 4:30 p.m.
“Consistent with our previously stated position, the Coral Springs City Commission strongly opposes the Board’s decision to rezone for a single school as opposed to a strategic regional approach that best meets the needs of all students,” according to the statement.
Initially, the school board intended to vote on the H1 MSD rezoning proposal, which would have rezoned incoming freshmen from parts of Coral Springs. Students who lived south of Wiles Road and North of Royal Palm Boulevard, between Coral Springs Drive and University Drive, would instead go to Coral Glades.
But, just before the meeting started, that abruptly changed.
On Wednesday evening, the district sent out emails and a robocall from Chair Lori Alhadeff, stating Interim Superintendent Dr. Earlean Smiley recommended the school boundaries for the 2022/2023 school year remain the same for the upcoming 2023/2024 year.
With that recommendation, incoming students currently zoned for MSD would still attend the school.
“The District will continue to address overcrowding challenges at Stoneman Douglas and review potential solutions that comply with School Board Policy for the 2024/25 school year,” the district said in the email.
The board subsequently updated the agenda, removing the H1 proposal and replacing it with Smiley’s recommendation.
These actions, the city commission said, came as a shock to both residents and the commission.
In the meeting, Alhadeff explained an unspecified person emailed the district, stating they violated Policy 5000 by not passing a boundary change resolution or forming a committee to address boundary changes.
Despite those findings, the district voted to reject Smiley’s recommendation. Later in the meeting, they voted 6-2 on the H1 proposal.
“We are disheartened and disappointed at how the process was conducted, the policies that were violated and openly acknowledged by the Board, as well as how information related to the hearing was communicated,” the statement reads.
The commission also encouraged residents to watch the hearing, email the school board at schoolboard@browardschools.com, and attend the next meeting on MSD rezoning.
The Second Public Hearing will take place on Wed., April 12, at J.P. Taravella High School, located at 10600 Riverside Drive, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Send Your News to Coral Springs #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don’t miss reading Parkland Talk, Tamarac Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, and Margate Talk.
Author Profile
- Bryan has a degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned his masters in geosciences from Florida International University, where he focused in atmospheric sciences. His interests include weather, entertainment, and municipal government.
Related
NewsJanuary 1, 2024BEST OF 2023: Inspiring Fitness Journey Earns Resident National Recognition
NewsNovember 20, 2023Charter School Alum Works Toward Equity For Black Veterans
NewsNovember 16, 2023Coral Springs Joins Regional Climate Effort, Commits to Bold Action Plan for Environmental Resilience
NewsNovember 8, 2023Meet Dr. Juliana Forero: Leading Coral Springs Museum to New Heights with Inclusivity
1 comment
Dear Mr. Bryan Boggiano,
I’m still working to overturn H-1 boundary changes inflicted by some of the Broward School Board members; related to violation of policy 5000, I have requested public records twice (email below) from all school board members and the superintendent; so far no records were sent or received . Perhaps the Coral Springs Talk can submit a request of its own, to increase the pressure on the board members.
Unfortunate for the residents of Coral Springs who were duped; Also C.S. politicians didn’t put up a strong defense, as the city of Parkland and Broward School Board took charge with TRUMPed, false subjective excuses of SAFETY, which have been repudiated and ignored with a 6-3 passage by the 04/12/2023 Broward School Board meeting. The city of Coral Springs at first offered strong threats of injunction, reduction of services, etc.; then at the H-1 boundary meeting , C.S. mayor Brooks offered and olive branch during his 30 sec. allowed time to speak; quite like Chamberlain Churchill’s offering to Hitler prior to WWII; that got him far! I question if Coral Springs will be sweeping this issue under the rug, since their poorly throught out Cornerstone building initiative, possibly exacerbated and gave the school board and Parkland ill conceived excuses/ reasons to pursue the rezoning issue of H-1 . I for one am NOT sweeping this issue under the rug… I implore you to investigate these educational and financial misjustices dealt to the last Coral Springs MSD incoming Students and community.
Thank you.
Richard Masters
Dear ________:
On April 12th., 2023, I emailed you a public records request pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, requesting public records concerning the school rezoning proposal initially known as C-4 and was updated to the H-1 boundary change. My request included, as a priority, all communications and correspondence written by, sent to, or received from the office of the School Board attorney, about the application, and/or potential violation, of “Policy 5000.” The complete email is repeated below. As of today, the City has not complied with my request as required by state law. Time is of the essence due to the School Board’s actions threatening to cause severe harm to hundreds of Broward County residents in the coming school year.
This email serves as notice to each recipient, including the School Board, of my intention to bring a civil action pursuant to Chapter 119 for production of the records requested below. The civil action will seek production of the records, and all other available relief under the law, including the reasonable costs of enforcement, including reasonable attorney’s fees.
I look forward to your expeditious compliance.
Richard Masters ( Coral Springs, FL.)
Thank you.
-Copy of initial request below:
Dear School Board Members and Superintendent Smiley:
This is a public records request pursuant to Chapter 119 of the Florida Statutes. I am requesting all communications, correspondence, memoranda, notes, and other written material, concerning the school rezoning proposal initially known as C-4 and was updated to the H-1 boundary change, to relocate students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland to Coral Glades High in Coral Springs.
As a priority, I am requesting all communications and correspondence written by, sent to, or received from the office of the School Board attorney, about the application, and/or potential violation, of “Policy 5000,” for production no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12.
Thank you very much.
Richard Masters