I understand the need for school closures due to numbers and budget. What’s frustrating as a parent is feeling strung along in this process. I would rather know the plan and see progress than continue having the same conversations without any direction. The recent Town Hall meeting at Miramar High School was almost identical to the one we had a year ago—yet we are still left without outcomes or clarity on the board’s next steps. Parents, students, and staff deserve to know what is happening so we can prepare and move forward. Please give us a clear direction and timeline, rather than repeating the same discussions year after year. Thank you for your time and for considering the families who are directly affected.

Dear Board Members,

As you focus on redefining our schools, please consider the urgent need for an autism-focused option in Broward. I am a parent of two BCPS autism students, and I know how deeply this community is impacted by the lack of appropriate programs. Families have repeatedly shared that BCPS autism cluster programs are not working. Too many parents have lost trust, and too many children are being underserved.

Every day, Broward families are forced to drive to Miami or Palm Beach because those counties offer what Broward does not: schools like South Florida Autism Charter that are autism-focused, flexible, accountable, and proven to work.

This redefinition process is the opportunity to change that. Instead of repeating the same model that has failed families, Broward should establish a district-managed charter school modeled after South Florida Autism Charter School in Miami. Such a school would not only meet a critical need but also make meaningful use of a redefined facility.

With autism now affecting 1 in 31 children, this need will only grow year after year. Broward should want to be a leader in change, setting the standard for autism education and letting other districts follow their example. Our children deserve more than another cluster program — they deserve a school built from the ground up to support them.

Sincerely,
Ashley Feely

Hello,
Thank you for taking the time to acknowledge my comment. I believe I speak for many parents who share the same concerns: we do not want a BCPS autism public school/ center . What we want is a district-managed charter school, similar to SFAcS. This distinction is very important . If we wanted a BCPS autism public school, we would simply keep our children in the cluster classrooms.