Broward Public School teachers, administrators and school board members are concerned that too many students are missing from the classrooms. Around 11,000 students who are still considered enrolled in a Broward School are no longer attending or coming only very sporadically.
So a group of several hundred teachers and administrators are spending the weekend going to the homes of students who have stopped attending school to encourage them to return. Teachers have also made phone calls to the homes of the missing students. The Broward Teachers Union and Broward Public School administrators worked together on this effort.
“It is important that we get students to reengage with their schools,” said Broward Schools Interim Superintendent Vickie Cartwight. “We are going to the home of the students who have not returned to school or come only occasionally to tell them we want them to return. It important that students are in the classrooms so they can learn.”
One reason many students have not returned is because of COVID fears. Other students have moved out of the area, attending Florida Virtual School, attend charter schools or have enrolled in private schools.
“It is important that students and their parents understand the importance of getting a high school diploma,” said Cartwright. She spoke to several students who said they wanted to return to school.
Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco said, “We need to reconnect with the students and get them back into the classrooms. We need to show them we care about them and want them to return,” she said. During the day she spoke to a 22 year old man who wanted to come back to school and earn a high school diploma.
School Board Member Debra Hixon said, “We need to try to get students to return. Some have moved out of the area while others are attending virtual school. We need to show that we care about them,” said Hixon.
Karlton Johnson, the principal of Blanche Ely High School said it is important for students to be in the classrooms to so they can learn and do well academically.
Jill Slesinski, principal of Lauderdale Lakes Middle School said she had a positive day and spoke with students who promised to return to class.
