Brevard board votes to close Alternative Learning Centers, returns students to home schools starting 2025-26

The Brevard Public Schools Board on March 11 voted unanimously to close the district’s Alternative Learning Centers beginning with the 2025-26 school year, returning eligible students to their zoned campuses and offering diversion and online options for some students.

Board members and district leaders said the change is intended to keep students academically on track and restore campus-based disciplinary processes. “Ultimately, the goal here really is to get that student code of conduct … back in line and to make sure that the principals have the autonomy to run their school,” said Miss Wright (board member) during discussion. Doctor Rendell (superintendent) told the board he expects some students will receive more support at their home schools and highlighted that returning students will have access to all seven standard courses offered at a typical campus.

The vote followed public comment by Bernard Bridal, a community member who asked how the district will staff and resource schools that receive former ALC students. Bridal said he was “concerned about whether that’s gonna increase the dropout rate if they don’t have enough social support, they don’t have enough counselors.” Board members said the district has presented counts and plans to provide extra support where student loads increase.

Board members described the change as the next step in a multi-stage plan. Miss Wright and others said principals have been consulted and that the action opens several implementation tasks—staff transfers, a transfer window for employees and revised student-code processes—that must follow the vote. Doctor Rendell and other board members said the board’s vote authorizes the staff to begin the operational steps needed to implement the closure for the 2025-26 school year.

Votes at a glance

- H64 — Closing Alternative Learning Centers beginning 2025-26: Approved (roll call: Mister Thomas—aye; Miss Campbell—aye; Mister Trent—aye; Mister Susan—aye; Miss Scribe—aye). - H61 — Refunding of district’s 2015C certificates of participation (release/substitution of Central Area adult/alternative education facility): Approved. - H62 — Department and school-initiated agreements: Approved. - H63 — Procurement solicitations: Approved.

What the board said and asked

Board members emphasized that the intent is to keep students connected to their campuses and to increase access to the full suite of courses and support services available at home schools. Several members urged principals to hold one-on-one conversations with staff to help manage the transition and to prioritize supports for schools that will receive higher numbers of returning students.

What remains to be decided

District staff must complete implementation tasks the board’s vote enables: finalize transfer processes for ALC staff, identify campus-level supports (counseling, social work, diversion program staffing), determine which students are eligible for diversion or online options, and finalize timelines tied to the transfer window that opens the Monday after spring break.

The board acknowledged community concern about resources and said additional operational details and follow-up reports will be presented to the board as staff executes the plan.

Ending

Board members and the superintendent said they expect additional steps and reports as the district moves from policy to implementation. The vote was unanimous; board members and staff said they will return to the board with implementation details and supports to ensure schools receiving returning students have counseling and instructional resources in place.