My name is Brandon Monse. I have taught music in Broward County for twenty years. I hold a master's degree in music education, serve on the DE faculty of Broward College and FIU, and have held state leadership roles in music education.

per slide 7: The plan's protected categories name "mandated student services" but do not name arts & music specifically.

"Program Portfolio Decisions" and "Enrollment-Based Allocations" are based on enrollment, participation, and "evidence and strategic value" but none of these are explicitly defined.

Music & arts subjects are often staffed by a single teacher per school, maybe two. (This is already far understaffed compared to comparable districts like Orange.) This type of programming doesn't shrink with declining enrollment the way a 'core' section does. it disappears entirely, and rarely returns.

Also, there is feedback risk: reducing programming in an area with no other access, then subsequently citing low participation as further justification, isn't evidence of low program value. This already happens across the district, where middle school music departments are now often placed on the shoulder of a single instructor. Subjects come and go based on "evidence" of popularity instead of evidence of insufficient staffing levels.

...To protect BCPS' important arts & music offerings, the board must direct staff to:
-Name arts & music explicitly among reviewed/protected categories before any reduction affecting them proceeds.
-Define evaluation evidence for these programs to include student performance data, NOT enrollment counts alone.
-Define "minimum service levels" (re slide 9) to include a baseline arts & music offerings at EVERY school level to include instrumental and vocal music with appropriate staffing.
-Report any arts & music reductions individually, specifically, to the Board, NOT folded into aggregate summaries.

If we want stakeholders to choose BCPS, if we want to reverse the ongoing decline, then we need to make sure our product is robust and competitive.

Brandon Monse, MME

This presentation undermines the Board’s authority and direction. The Board has given clear direction on this subject, and this presentation attempts to persuade the Board to undo its decision. To relitigate this issue is to waste valuable Board time that should be spent on student-centered issues.
BCPS enrollment shrank again this year, yet district-wide classes are over state-mandated class size maximums. BCPS should prioritize funding for teachers, not an outsized central District staff.

I am extremely concerned about the possible closure of Hollywood Park Elementary.
I have taught for 37 years, 24 of them at Hollywood Park. This school is a second home to me and to many children and families in our community.
For 24 years I have watched our teachers and staff give tirelessly—coming early, staying late, tutoring, supporting struggling students, and partnering with families. Their hard work has produced several consecutive A school ratings which strengthens the entire Broward District. Achieving the A's took years of planning, data analysis, tutoring students and dedication. To face possible closure after that success is deeply discouraging.
A major concern is our unique special-needs cluster program. Teachers and staff know these students’ individual needs and have built trusting relationships with them and their families. These children feel safe and accepted here. Moving them would force them to start over in a program not designed for them. A specialized program like this should be protected.
Our location matters. The Hollywood Police Department is next door, giving families a sense of safety. The Boys & Girls Club is nearby, and Apollo Middle School is within walking distance, creating a natural continuum for our students. Closing Hollywood Park would disrupt this network of supports that working families rely on.
Hollywood Park is a true community school. Our custodians work incredibly hard and care deeply about our school and our children. They may not receive the recognition or compensation they deserve, but they show up every day and take pride in what they do. They are an important part of our school family. After 37 years in education, I can say the people here are among the most dedicated I have known.
I understand the Board faces hard decisions about enrollment and budgets. Please look beyond the numbers. Come visit. Talk to our teachers, families, and special-education staff. See what this school means.
Please reconsider closing Hollywood Park Elementary. It is more than a building—it is a community, a second home, and a unique program our area cannot afford to lose.