Miami-Dade School Board approves resolutions honoring community leaders, adopts two-year calendars and advances safety, history and celebration plans

The Miami-Dade County School Board on Wednesday approved a package of ceremonial resolutions, adopted district calendars for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years and approved motions directing district staff to pursue feasibility work on safety and community-history projects.

The board voted to adopt three board-member resolutions recognizing longtime education and community leaders: resolution 25-003 honoring G. Holmes Braddock, resolution 25-001 recognizing Gustavo “Gus” Cabrera, and a resolution recognizing Vernon Carey. Each resolution was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote during the meeting.

The board also approved D69, the joint recommendation of the calendar task force, adopting elementary, secondary, adult education and juvenile-justice calendars for the 2025–26 and 2026–27 school years. The calendars were developed by a joint committee of district staff, school-site leaders and union representatives and were presented to the board with supporting testimony from United Teachers of Dade officials.

Board members approved H6 directing staff to consider the feasibility of districtwide activities and a planning process for the U.S. Semiquincentennial (the 250th anniversary of the United States) and H9 directing staff to explore a partnership with the HistoryMiami Museum to boost instruction and community engagement around local history. Both items specify that feasibility findings should be returned to a future committee meeting for discussion.

The board also approved H8, a directive to the districtwide safety and security committee to review existing safety, security and mental-health protocols in light of findings from a recent school shooting in Madison, Wisconsin, and to return recommendations to the board. The item asks staff to evaluate counselor allocations and to consider technology and interagency options, including possible use of data and advanced tools, to identify concerning student behavior and improve prevention efforts.

Board members generally spoke in support of the measures during committee and on the floor. Several motions passed by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the public transcript.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-003 (G. Holmes Braddock): Motion to approve presented by Board Member Luisa Santos; outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: public speakers and sponsor remarks began at transcript ~s=494.4 and concluded with final vote ~s=2529.46. - Resolution 25-001 (Gustavo “Gus” Cabrera): Motion to approve presented by Chair (item proffered by Board Member Roxas / sponsor noted in transcript); outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: topic began ~s=2540.68 and concluded ~s=3203.21. - Resolution honoring Vernon Carey: Motion presented by Dr. Bendros Mendengal (presenter); outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: topic began ~s=3204.125 and concluded ~s=3812.53. - D69 (2025–26 and 2026–27 school calendars): Motion to approve by the board following presentations from joint calendar committee / UTD; outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: discussion began ~s=10937.55 and final vote ~s=11732.82. - H6 (U.S. Semiquincentennial planning): Motion to explore feasibility; outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: item discussion begins ~s=11745.315 and vote ~s=12403.47. - H8 (Safety & security committee review): Motion to direct review and report back; outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: item discussion begins ~s=12445.315 and vote ~s=12958.00. - H9 (HistoryMiami partnership feasibility): Motion to direct staff to explore partnership; outcome: approved (voice vote). Provenance: discussion begins ~s=12959.42 and vote ~s=13580.93.

Why it matters: The votes wrap up both ceremonial recognitions and several policy-direction items that shape planning and operational priorities — calendars that affect every student and family, district safety reviews that could affect resource allocation and training, and new community partnerships and celebration planning that the district says could expand student and public engagement.

What’s next: For the feasibility items the board directed staff to return findings to committee meetings for further consideration. The calendar adoption begins the implementation phase for the two-year planning window; administrators and school leaders will follow the adopted calendar timelines.