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School District Budget Cuts Will Affect Construction For Local Schools
Published July 1st, 2008
By Nicol Jenkins
Editor
Broward County School District budget cuts will halt some Parkland and Coral Springs schools from being built, while others will be delayed.
Under the five-year plan, a fourth elementary school was originally planned to be built in Parkland, in addition to Riverglades, Park Trails, and the new School Z.
However, a $250 million budget shortfall for the District’s construction projects has halted that project and others.
“We cut the funding for the design of the fourth elementary school in Parkland because we don’t need it at this time. The growth is not there,” said School Board member Stephanie Kraft.
If the growth returns, Kraft says the School Board will re-visit the plan.
“We built School Z larger to accommodate the new homes in the Heron Bay area that no one is moving into at this time. If and when the annexation occurs, we will sell the Trails End property and use that money to purchase land in the annexation area for the fourth elementary school. We already have a deal with the developers of the annexation area for them to donate land in lieu of impact fees for a middle school. We would add money to that and purchase additional acreage for an elementary in that location, so we don’t need the fourth school at this time,” she said. “If the annexation does not occur, and more people move into the Heron Bay area than we have room for at School Z, which is not predicted, we can keep the Trails End property and add money back into the plan.”
School Z elementary school to be located at the intersection of Nob Hill and Pine Island Roads in Parkland, is not on the chopping block. The school is under construction and is expected to open next school year. School Z was designed larger than originally planned since it was anticipated that the other elementary school would not be built. School Z will relieve overcrowding at nearby Park Trails, including the planned new construction in Heron Bay.
Some Park Trails Elementary students will move to the new school depending on where they reside. The construction will move a projected 649 students into School Z next year and leave about 829 students at Park Trails.
“Because some students will move out of Park Trails, students from Riverglades will take their seats at Park Trails to relieve overcrowding. The boundaries for the change from Riverglades to Park Trails will be discussed this coming school year,” Kraft says.
Although, some schools will benefit including:
· Westglades Elementary will receive funding for a 24-room addition.
· Parkside Elementary will receive classroom additions.
· Hunt Elementary will receive an additional $5 million, bringing the total to $7 million, to expand and remodel its kitchen, renovate cafeteria and reconfigure its parking lot. They are also receiving a new kindergarten and elementary playground in 2009-10.
· Coral Springs Middle School will receive additional funding for the stand-alone gym and renovate the existing gym to classroom spaces.
· J.P. Taravella High School will receive funding to renovate existing locker rooms and expand the cafeteria.
But why is there such a budget shortfall?
Among the reasons are declining student enrollment and the property tax amendment that passed in January.
“With the property tax amendment, we are getting less revenue. Our capital dollars came from property taxes. Less taxes, less dollars for our construction program. Second, many projects were deleted due to declining enrollments. Based on the current housing market, the bank and mortgage crisis, and people fleeing South Florida, our enrollments are decreasing. Decreasing enrollments mean decreased need, and also decreased funding since we are funded per student. Less students, less funding.”
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