Brevard board approves advertising public hearing on attendance-boundary changes after residents plead to keep Cape View open

The Brevard Public Schools board voted on Dec. 9 to advertise a public hearing in January on proposed attendance-boundary changes for 2026–27, after more than a dozen members of the public urged the board to keep Cape View Elementary open.

Doctor Rendell introduced action item H1, the attendance-boundary proposals for 2026–27, and a motion was made to “approve the advertising of a public hearing,” which was what the board voted on that night. Miss Campbell clarified for the public that the motion under consideration was to advertise the hearing only, not to approve any boundary changes: “tonight's motion is to, approve the advertising of a public hearing, which will happen in January,” she said.

Public commenters emphasized Cape View’s status as an A-rated neighborhood school and raised practical concerns about students who walk to school, neighborhood traffic, and teacher jobs. A third-grade student, who identified himself as Eli, told the board, “I have been here for 5 years... It’s an A rated school, and it does not and it does not deserve to be shut down,” adding that many students walk or scooter to school and closing the campus would disrupt families.

Retired local educator Gina Darange suggested alternatives, including exploring a STEM academy tied to the nearby aquarium or seeking grants to preserve the campus, while community advocates urged stronger outreach to increase enrollment and early-learning participation. Bernard Bryan (representing concerned citizens and the South Brevard NAACP branch) pointed to low pre-K enrollment at affected schools and recommended districtwide strategies rather than piecemeal boundary changes.

After board discussion and the public comment period, the clerk called the roll; the motion to advertise the public hearing passed with recorded "Aye" votes by the listed members. The vote authorizes the district to publish notice and hold a public hearing in January; it does not itself change attendance boundaries. The district will hear public testimony at that future hearing before making any final decision.