School board agrees to match Fort Lauderdale's $1.7 million to upgrade Sunrise Middle athletic facilities

The school board of Broward County on Aug. 19 approved a $1.7 million match to the City of Fort Lauderdale to upgrade athletic facilities serving Bennett Elementary, Sunrise Middle School and Fort Lauderdale High School, a package district staff said is intended to support a proposed Sports Academy serving those feeder schools.

The decision came after more than 40 members of the public — students, parents, coaches and neighborhood leaders — urged the board to approve the funding. The board approved the match after a brief motion and directed the superintendent to work with the city and district staff on a project scope and timeline for carrying out the work.

'The city has already committed $1,725,000 to a list of park and pool improvements," board member Leonardi said in introducing the item. The board's allocation will be paired with the city funds so the combined investment can be used in a coordinated way to upgrade fields, the track, pool systems, lighting and related site work that the city has been planning.

Superintendent Hepburn told the board the district will not simply hand cash to the city; staff will jointly manage the projects and will release district funds incrementally as milestones are met.

Parents and students described the condition of current facilities and urged a quick commitment. 'This isn't just about a field,' student Lily Z. told the board. 'It's about a place where kids learn teamwork, leadership and health.' Other speakers noted neighborhood support, volunteer fund-raising and the city's parks bond passed in 2019 as contributing to the effort.

Board members asked staff to return with an item that lays out the specific deliverables, who will do what, and timing for completion. Some members also asked staff to include contractual provisions to protect district funds if specified work is not completed on schedule.

The vote followed the board's earlier decision to take several items out of consent for fuller discussion, and came after separate votes on personnel and other procurement measures. The motion to match the city's funds passed with a majority of the board; the board also directed the superintendent to bring a detailed, itemized scope and timeline back to the board for review and formal appropriation of district funds.

What happens next: district and city staff will develop coordinated project plans and permitting steps. The board asked for an incremental funding approach so district payments are tied to confirmed milestones and deliverables.

Why it matters: district officials said the combined investment can improve safety, increase after-school and extracurricular opportunities and support a multi-school athletics program that school leaders hope will help retain and attract students to the district.

What the board asked staff to return with: a written scope and timeline for the work, the recommended contracting approach and a schedule of milestone-based payments; staff are to detail how the district will inspect and approve work paid for with board-allocated funds.

Public response: dozens of parents, students and civic leaders packed the meeting and urged immediate approval; several board members cited the large turnout in explaining their votes.

The item will return to the board with a detailed project plan and timeline for execution before any district funds are transferred.