Mar 25, 2009 7:33 pm US/Eastern
Broward School Board Finalizes Boundary Changes
Meeting At Plantation High School, 6901 NW 16th Street
Some Concerned Parents Wanted A One Year Delay
PLANTATION (CBS4) ―
Concerned parents turned out in force Wednesday as the Broward County Public School Board met to finalize boundary changes for the 2009/2010 school year, affecting hundreds of school children.
At their last meeting on February 26th, the Board approved seven boundary changes for the next school year. School district officials said the changes were needed to relieve overcrowding and meet class size requirements. School Board members have to approve the adoption of the 2009/10 school boundaries with two consecutive votes before attendance areas are adopted for the upcoming school year.
The most contentious boundary change involves Lyons Creek Middle School in Coconut Creek. Dozens of parents from this school do not want their kids to be moved to Margate Middle. The parents do not believe the schools are comparable, and they plan to ask the Broward County School Board to reconsider.
The meeting spirited meeting went on at Plantation High School, but by the time it was over, parents knew that hundreds of kids were bound to go to another school next year.
"I'm hoping that they give us a one year delay," said parent Young Ajello. "That's all we're asking for, just one year, so that next year they already have programs implemented. That's what I'm hoping."
Click Here to see the boundary changes for several elementary and high schools.
Decked out in yellow shirts, and as loud as a middle school lunchroom, concerned Coconut Creek parents at the February meeting asked that the Board to put their boundary vote on hold, but it went through anyway.
"I would like to ask for a delay in this vote today," said parent Nora Rupert.
Rupert wanted her daughter Brenna, who is in 5th grade, to attend Lyons Creek Middle School. Now her daughter will probably have to attend nearby Margate Middle. Rupert says it's not fair.
"Lyons Creek is a magnet school. Margate Middle is not a magnet school," said Rupert. "According to the school board's policies, a magnet school is something extra special. Why would we want to get rid of our children from a magnet school to a school that's just adequate at this point?"
The School Board however needs to ensure the district meets class size requirements; Lyons Creek Middle is beyond capacity. Margate Middle is well below capacity.
"This is the appropriate move, and Margate Middle will be of equal quality to Lyons Creek and the students will prevail," said Superintendent Jim Notter.
Parents have learned something too: Even if they lose they will work to improve whichever school their child attends. .
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