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Diversity committee urges district to fix disparities in facilities, athletic and library support under CCC settlement
Summary
The Broward Schools Diversity Committee delivered its 2024–25 annual response report to the board on May 20, citing uneven conditions in athletics, media centers, maintenance and compliance with the CCC settlement. The committee asked for clearer processes, an annual facilities assessment, and stronger maintenance-of-effort reporting.
The Diversity Committee presented its annual response report to the Broward County School Board on May 20, singling out continued gaps in facilities maintenance, media-center access, athletics funding and compliance with a long‑running CCC legal settlement.
The committee, chaired by Nani Pierre Grant, said site visits showed ‘‘unsatisfactory conditions’’ in some campuses and called for an annual facilities‑condition assessment, clearer processes for athletics facility reviews, and updated media‑center funding to ensure equitable access across the district.
Why it matters: The diversity report tied current disparities to the district’s obligations under the CCC settlement, saying some schools still lack adequate textbooks, media‑center access or timely repairs. Committee members emphasized that appearances can mask operational constraints — for example, a school sharing a city library may still have no student access during school hours because of public access and safety concerns.
Key recommendations
- Facilities condition assessment and 5‑year capital planning: The committee asked the board to direct staff to adopt a yearly facility assessment and to put results into a 5‑year capital plan so maintenance and replacement needs are visible and prioritized.
- Media centers and media specialists: The report noted uneven access to certified media specialists and recommended the board update library/media funding that has not been raised since the original settlement years. Committee members asked for district procedures for media‑center access and for updates on schools that do not currently provide student take‑home library programs.
- Athletics and extracurricular equity: Committee members reported delayed work orders, missing qualified evaluations and unclear club listings in athletics that create uneven student opportunities. They asked for standard processes for facility evaluations and repair timelines.
- RBT access for students with autism: The committee asked the board to develop a uniform protocol to ensure registered behavior technician (RBT) services — often funded by Medicaid or private insurance — are allowed across campuses, citing House Bill 255 and state requirements about private instructional personnel.
What the board and staff said
Superintendent Dr. Hepburn said staff are preparing an action plan tied to the facility‑condition assessment and that a new committee will develop the district’s long‑range facilities plan. Board members asked for faster follow‑up and for the district to ensure sports, restrooms and basic cleanliness do not lag behind academic improvements.
Ending
Committee members asked the board to adopt clearer timelines for repairs, to prioritize school‑level funding disparities and to ensure library/media access is equitable. The board directed staff to return with timelines and next steps after the facility‑condition assessment is complete.
