Miramar City Commission Special Meeting: BCPS Partnership Opportunities Workshop – February 18, 2025

On February 18, 2025, at 4:00 PM, the Miramar City Commission held a special workshop meeting to discuss partnership opportunities between the City of Miramar and Broward County Public Schools (BCPS). The meeting focused on two primary initiatives: expanding Coral Cove Elementary’s performing arts program to a K‑8 school, and launching a Local Government Academy (LGA) at Miramar and Everglades High Schools. Presenters included city staff, BCPS representatives, and school board member Rebecca Thompson. The workshop was held in advance of a formal resolution scheduled for the next day’s commission meeting.

Presentation – BCPS & City Partnership Opportunities

Coral Cove Elementary Performing Arts Expansion

• Dr. McSwain (Chief Operating Officer of Health and Education) announced that Coral Cove Elementary, currently K‑5, will become a K‑8 school beginning with grade 6 in the 2025‑2026 academic year. The school’s innovative performing arts program will be extended over three years to include up to grade 8. The city’s Cultural Center will provide workshops and speakers in collaboration with Coral Cove.
• Principal Stephanie Sabin described the program: all students in pre‑K through 2nd grade perform, building poise and expertise. She highlighted the program’s impact on students with special needs or English language learners, and emphasized the school’s supportive community.

Silver Shores Elementary Transition

• Dr. Valerie Wanza (BCPS Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer) explained that the school board voted on January 22, 2025, to transition Silver Shores from a neighborhood K‑5 to a full‑choice, district‑assignment K‑8 school with a STEM focus that infuses the arts. Students currently zoned for Silver Shores will be reassigned to Silver Lakes or Silver Palms Elementary. The school will have a transportation zone. Mayor Messam noted interest in an aerospace theme, which would feed into Miramar High School’s aviation magnet program, and mentioned ongoing discussions with the Barrington Irving Institute.

Local Government Academy (LGA)

• Assistant City Manager Sean Gale and Shalima Mohammed (both doctoral students at Nova Southeastern University) presented the LGA, a four‑year curriculum for 9th graders starting in 2025‑2026. The program is designed to build the future workforce, aligning with Florida Department of Education projections that five industries (trade/transportation/utilities, professional/business services, healthcare/social assistance, leisure/hospitality, and government) will account for over 75% of the workforce and more than 7 million workers by 2029. The city’s workforce has approximately 17% currently eligible for retirement, with another 13% becoming eligible in the next five years.
• The curriculum has four tracks: Public Service Leadership, Public Service Communication, Project Management & Experiential Learning, and Public Service Research. It includes field trips (e.g., city facilities, Miramar Park of Commerce, Historic Miramar projects) and a capstone project. The budget totals $92,700: $38,600 in‑kind (staff time, lesson plans, guest speakers, meetings) and $54,100 for uniforms, field trips, meals, internships, scholarships, and contingencies.
• The program will launch at both Miramar and Everglades High Schools. A pre‑assessment exam will gauge student knowledge; post‑assessment and qualitative data will be collected. The project requires IRB approvals from both NSU and BCPS before implementation. Shalima Mohammed noted that BCPS accepted the preliminary curriculum without edits.

Discussion – Commissioner and Mayor Comments

Commissioner Maxwell B. Chambers

• Called the LGA “a game changer.” He emphasized the importance of community engagement and thanked BCPS for listening to parents and students during the redefining process. He requested that the fire and police departments increase presence in schools by having fire trucks and police patrols make rounds in elementary schools to build relationships and improve safety. He also stressed the value of early childhood education, noting that his own children benefited from quality daycare. He advocated for expanding pre‑K programs and praised the city’s long‑standing school partnerships (e.g., fire academy, criminal justice program).

Commissioner Yvette Colbourne

• Expressed excitement about the LGA, noting her 30 years in Miami‑Dade County government. She emphasized the importance of teaching students about local government. She commended the BCPS redefining process for making residents feel valued and turning potential conflict into positive solutions. She requested that cultural education programs be extended to all schools, especially in Historic Miramar, to ensure equity between East and West Miramar.

Mayor Wayne M. Messam

• Highlighted that Miramar families have multiple educational options (public, charter, private, homeschool), which creates a challenge for public schools. He recalled the city’s prior partnerships: the fire academy at Everglades High School (2013‑2014), the public safety program at Miramar High School, and the annual Aviation Expo (1,500‑2,000 students). He noted that the LGA builds on this legacy. He asked about the approval process for NSU and BCPS. Staff confirmed that both IRB processes are underway. He also asked whether students could join the LGA after 9th grade; Dr. Wanza and Principal Curran confirmed that interested students in later grades would not be excluded.

School Board Member Rebecca Thompson

• Thanked the city for its strong involvement in schools and noted that the redefining process included community input. She looked forward to continued partnership.

Dr. Valerie Wanza (BCPS)

• Thanked the city for its innovation and leadership. She noted that the redefining effort is iterative, with planning for the next school year starting in May 2025. She answered questions about Silver Shores and the kindergarten roundup, confirming that BCPS has accelerated enrollment timelines for pre‑K and kindergarten.

Key Outcomes

• The commission expressed unanimous support for the partnership initiatives, with strong praise for the LGA and the Coral Cove expansion.
• A resolution in support of the Local Government Academy is scheduled for the February 19, 2025 commission meeting for formal vote.
• The city will continue coordinating with BCPS on implementation, including IRB approvals, curriculum finalization, and field trip planning.
• Commissioner Chambers’ request for increased fire and police presence in schools will be considered by city administration.
• Commissioner Colbourne’s call for equitable cultural education programs will be explored with BCPS.
• The Silver Shores transition to a K‑8 full‑choice STEM school will proceed, with further community engagement planned.