First Up: Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School crowding roils Broward County

For some Broward County students and parents, this week’s flooding and torrential downpours just piled on to the bad news about their educational options. Following a long and contentious meeting, the Broward County School Board voted 6-3 to change the school zone boundaries in order to ease overcrowding at Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 

That means 351 incoming ninth graders who had expected to go to Douglas, which has an “A” grade, now will be sent to Coral Glades High School, which has a “C.” This was the second and final vote the Broward School Board took on this issue. Before the vote, 184 people spoke in public comment on the move, some wearing orange to signal their support of safety. 

On one side were Parkland residents who wanted the students sent to Coral Glades because they felt it was unsafe to have such a crush of students at Douglas, which is already 423 students over capacity. But Coral Springs residents who wanted their students at Douglas said they bought their houses near the Parkland school so they could send their teens there.

Interim Broward Schools Superintendent Dr. Earlean Smiley had recommended that the boundaries not be changed for another year, suggesting in the meantime that an extra lunch period be added. The majority of the board was unconvinced, though board members Debra Hixon, Sarah Leonardi and Dr. Jeff Holness did vote against moving students to Coral Glades.

– David Volz