Brenda Fam resigns from Broward School Board, citing hostility and budget concerns
Key Points(5)
- Brenda Fam, a conservative voice on the Broward County School Board, announced her <a href="https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/broward/article304782486.html">resignation</a> Tuesday, citing a toxic political climate and financial mismanagement within the district.
- Fam, an attorney and District 6 representative, was elected in 2022.
- In a letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn, she linked her decision to step down with the recent resignation of Alec Bogdanoff, the chair of the Superintendent’s Oversight Committee Task Force, who stepped away from his volunteer post after only three meetings.
- Bogdanoff pointed to “entrenched resistance, hostility to new perspectives and a culture that too often rewards control over progress” in his letter — a sentiment Fam said she shared.
- “I have also encountered the same hostility and personal attacks for trying to improve the school climate and increase inclusivity of parents,” Fam wrote.
Brenda Fam, a conservative voice on the Broward County School Board, announced her resignation Tuesday, citing a toxic political climate and financial mismanagement within the district.
Fam, an attorney and District 6 representative, was elected in 2022. In a letter to Superintendent Howard Hepburn, she linked her decision to step down with the recent resignation of Alec Bogdanoff, the chair of the Superintendent’s Oversight Committee Task Force, who stepped away from his volunteer post after only three meetings. Bogdanoff pointed to “entrenched resistance, hostility to new perspectives and a culture that too often rewards control over progress” in his letter — a sentiment Fam said she shared.
“I have also encountered the same hostility and personal attacks for trying to improve the school climate and increase inclusivity of parents,” Fam wrote. “I also observed that if an individual does not agree with the current district culture of prioritizing social justice over academics, the current recognized quid pro quo, then they are targeted, dismissed, and ridiculed.”
Fam, who lives in Davie, added, “No one who steps up to serve their community should be met with that kind of behavior.”
In her resignation letter, she expressed alarm over the district’s future, pointing to declining enrollment and ongoing financial instability.
Hepburn previously projected a budget shortfall of $75 to $80 million due to challenges with declining enrollment.
Fam criticized plans for a 10-year increase in property taxes and impact fee hikes on new home purchases, arguing they would place an unfair burden on residents.
“My greatest fear is that (the district) will seek a bail-out from residents in 2026 in the form of referendum funds from Broward County residents due to the (board’s) failure to implement a balanced budget and engaging in wasteful overspending,” she wrote. “I have old school values and was taught that you don’t buy what you can’t pay for. You don’t purchase things that you cannot afford.”
Fam also took a parting shot at the board’s stance on school choice, saying she’d “forever treasure” the “unique opportunity to stand up to” fellow members and the Broward Teachers Union.
Her resignation is effective May 1.
