Citing declining student enrollment and growing budget pressures, the Broward County School Board voted Wednesday night to close six school campuses, while rejecting a proposal to shut down Bair Middle School.
The vote came during a lengthy public meeting that stretched late into the evening, as board members considered Superintendent Howard Hepburn’s “Redefining Our Schools” plan. Hepburn initially recommended closing seven schools and implementing multiple boundary changes across the district.
“We have to reduce our footprint because we have fewer students. It has nothing to do with how amazing our students are,” said Debra Hixon, one of the board’s two countywide members.
The plan, which includes 11 proposed changes developed after months of public meetings, faced opposition from the Broward Teachers Union.
Approved school closures
Under agenda item MM-1, the board voted to close Sunshine Elementary School, located at 7737 La Salle Boulevard in Miramar. Students will be transferred to Fairway Elementary School, at 7850 Fairway Boulevard, also in Miramar.
Several changes will affect Pembroke Pines elementary schools. Through item MM-2, the board approved the closure of Panther Run Elementary School, at 801 NW 172 Ave., with students reassigned to Chapel Trail Elementary School, at 19595 Taft St., and Silver Palms Elementary School, at 1209 NW 155th Ave.
Through item MM-3, the board voted to repurpose Palm Cove Elementary School, at 11601 Washington St. Students will be transferred to Lakeside Elementary School, at 900 NW 136th Ave., and Pines Lakes Elementary School, at 10300 Johnson St.
In Fort Lauderdale, item MM-4 approved the closure of North Fork Elementary School, at 101 NW 15 Ave. Students will be reassigned to Croissant Park Elementary School, at 1800 SW 4 Ave.; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, at 591 NW 31st Ave.; Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, at 800 NW 13th St.; and Walker Elementary School, at 1001 NW 4 St.
Through item MM-10, the board voted to reconfigure Thurgood Marshall Elementary School into a birth-through-fifth-grade early learning center.
Item MM-11 approved the closure of Seagull Alternative High School, at 425 SW 28 St. in Fort Lauderdale. Students will transfer to the Whiddon-Rogers Education Center, at 700 SW 26 St.
In Plantation, the board voted under item MM-6 to close Plantation Middle School, at 6600 West Sunrise Boulevard, and transfer students to Plantation High School, at 6901 NW 16 St.
Bair Middle School spared
The board rejected item MM-7, which would have closed Bair Middle School, at 9100 NW 21 Manor in Sunrise, and reassigned students to Westpine Middle School, at 9393 NW 50 St.
Board member Jeff Holness, the Jamaican-American representing District 5, urged colleagues to keep Bair open. Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco told the board there is a plan in place to help increase enrollment at the school.
“I don’t see how any city is going to operate with just one middle school,” Fusco said, referring to Sunrise.
Sunrise City Manager Mark S. Lubelski said the mayor and several commissioners support investing in Bair Middle School to keep it open.
Boundary changes approved
The board also approved several boundary adjustments.
Under item MM-5, a portion of the Walter C. Young Middle School boundary in Pembroke Pines, west of Interstate 75, will shift, reassigning some students to Silver Trail Middle School, at 18300 Sheridan St.
Item MM-8 shifts part of the Charles W. Flanagan High School boundary west of I-75, reassigning students to West Broward High School, at 500 NW 209 Ave. in Pembroke Pines.
Through item MM-9, a portion of the Hallandale High School boundary west of Interstate 95 will be reassigned to Miramar High School. The change would also transition Hallandale High School to a four-day-week magnet model, similar to Pompano Beach High School.
The district’s final workshop on the proposal was held on Dec. 8. All approved closures, reconfigurations, and boundary changes are scheduled to take effect in the 2026–2027 school year.
