The Broward County (Florida) School Board has voted to close six schools in response to declining enrollment.
NBC 6 South Florida reports that the board acted to address an enrollment decline of more than 40,000 students in the past 10 years. That equates to a loss of more than $30 million in state funding.
“There's other cost saving measures but closing schools is something we have to do,” Superintendent Howard Hepburn said.
The board had been looking at closing seven schools, but decided to keep Bair Middle School open after students and other supporters made a final appeal.
The schools that will close:
- Sunshine Elementary
- Palm Cove Elementary
- Panther Run Elementary
- North Fork Elementary
- Plantation Middle School
- Seagull Alternative High School
The superintendent says closing the six schools will help save the district about $8 million a year.
“We're trying to make sure Broward County Public Schools is sustainable for the future,” Hepburn said.
The closed schools will remain open for other district uses. Discussions about how the transition process will work are underway.
