On Friday May 16 between 9:20 am and 9:45 am two residences were broken into.  One was on Ridgelock Court and the other on West Falcons Lea Dr.  The two suspects were male Hispanics driving a white vehicle, possibly a Mercedes with black emblem on the grill area. They back up into the driveway so they can get out quick.   One individual will stay in the car while the other bangs on the door and window to see if someone is home.  They proceed to use a crowbar or other device to force the deadbolt open.  They are brazen and bold, doing this even when other neighbors are home.  They don't care if you have an alarm because they are in and out fast probably within 2 to 3 minutes.   They target jewelry and cash heading to the master bedroom first and foremost. 

Posted May 17, 2008

Dear Friends & Neighbors who will be attending West Broward High School,

A VOTE and selection of the members for the West Broward High School Advisory and PTA will be held on:

May 21, Wednesday at 7pm at the SOUTH AREA offices, SUNSHINE ROOM corner of Sunrise Blvd and 136^th Avenue.  On the SW corner opposite Sawgrass Mills Mall. See address and directions below.

SHOW UP EARLY!

IF you are interested in having a voice on the direction and wish to be involved with our new HIGH SCHOOL, please attend this meeting and VOTE for our representatives to these important advisory boards.

IN the past, our resident parents have NOT been as involved in these advisory boards and therefore we were less informed than many other parents in surrounding communities. Currently, we will have about 300 children attending West Broward High from our Ivanhoe Communities.

WE NEED representation on these boards and the ensuing committees !!!!.

DUES will be collected for these groups this evening, so bring your checkbook. (Small amount $5-$10)

You received a recent phone message at home concerning this meeting urging your attendance.

Currently, Pembroke Pines has the majority of members on the Silver Trail advisory boards with almost NO representation for Davie and Southwest Ranches.

As a community, we have seen where involvement and participation in these parent groups can have an extreme impact on what happens at the school level.

WE ALL HAVE SAID WE WILL EMBRACE OUR SCHOOL AND BECOME ACTIVE.

THIS IS YOUR CHANCE. There is time involvement, but more important is the participation in the ideals, integrity and morals that we want to have instilled in our school, WEST BROWARD HIGH!

GO BOBCATS!

See you at the meeting……………   Please RSVP at jjpickett@bellsouth.net and let us know of your intention to show up and vote or become an active board member. Remember, there will be a VOTE and we NEED to be represented!!!

SEE address below… or call West Broward High at 754-323-2600. The meeting is in the “sunshine room”.

This office is at the corner of Sunrise Blvd and 136^th Avenue.  On the SW corner opposite Sawgrass Mills Mall.

(It is a tricky drive once you are in the complex.)  

Driving directions: From I-75: Sunrise Exit and turn Right at light 136th Ave (which is also Harrison Parkway)

Directions from Flamingo Rd.: turn Right at light 136th Ave (which is also Harrison Parkway)

Turn right into Sawgrass Technology Park, and immediately turn left at sign that says SAW (for SAWGRASS)

Drive all the way around towards the back, go past two lakes on the left side

Turn right at the second light, you'll see Building H, it's a red tiled building, the door is next to AMRO

The meeting will be in the Sunshine Room.

Actual address:

South Area Superintendent’s Office

1643 North Harrison Parkway

Building H

Sunrise, Florida 33328

(754) 321-3600

Posted May 13, 2008

MEDIA ADVISORY      

Rep. Martin David Kiar (D-97) to host Environmental Fair and Light Bulb Exchange                                                                                  

Davie, FL –Florida State Representative Martin David Kiar (D-97) and Philips Lighting are teaming up to give two compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to anyone who brings in at least one incandescent bulb, while supplies last.  The CFL bulbs use 75% to 80% less electricity and last up to ten times longer than a traditional incandescent bulb, and produce considerably less heat.  Old bulbs will be recycled.

This event will take place on Saturday, May 17, 2008 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Robbins Park, located at 4005 Hiatus Road in Davie.  Other exhibitors will include the South Florida Water Management District, Florida Power & Light, Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Division -  Air Quality Program, 4-H Broward County, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Natural Energy, Broward County’s Water Resource Division and the Town of Davie.

“Given the need for each of us to eventually convert to eco-friendly bulbs, it made perfect sense to partner with these great organizations and offer this to my constituents and all area residents,” said Kiar.  “Having grown up right here in Broward County, I’ve always appreciated the wonderful environmental landscape in which we live.  In order to preserve that quality of life for future generations, we need to become conscious of our carbon footprint and learn how to take steps now to conserve water and electricity, which is a simple way for us all to begin this process.”

Philips Lighting has generously donated these bulbs for our residents, to maintain their goal of “working to meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of our future generations to meet their own needs.”

For residents unable to attend the event, please call the office at 954-346-2813 for information on how to exchange your incandescent bulb for a new CFL.

Posted May 10, 2008

An alligator was spotted in the canal on Old Moat Way. It is four feet long. The police have been contacted. Keep small children and pets away from the canal. Keep your eyes open!

Posted May 9, 2008

The latest news is that Dan Trager, the new principal at West Broward High School, will be available to attend our general PTA/SAC/SAF meeting at Hawkes Bluff Elementary on May 15th at 6:30pm.  This invitation is extended to the Town of SW Ranches to join us. 

Posted May 9, 2008

The Non-Emergency number for the Town of Davie Police Department is (954) 693-8200.

Modified Phase II Water Order Begins April 18 (see Community Links)

Posted April 17, 2008

Thousands of SW Broward students to shift high schools

The battle over the southwest Broward student reshuffle raged until a final vote late into the night Wednesday, and most people weren't happy.

• Parents speak out against new school boundaries that will relocate thousands of students Video
• Boundary dispute: Overcrowding at Cypress Bay High School Photos
• Where the boundaries are

Posted April 13, 2008

School Board faces choice on building high school in SW Broward

Boundaries could change if new campus not approved

Despite an abundance of empty classroom desks countywide, some Broward school officials are willing to pay a premium for land to build a new high school.

The asking price for the two sites under consideration is twice the appraised value. Yet some School Board members would rather build the campus than face the upheaval of redrawing boundaries for more than two dozen high schools.

The proposed school in southwest Broward, dubbed High School MMM for now, would cost about $125 million and hold about 1,700 students. Broward's existing high schools are now under-enrolled by about 7,000 students total.

"You talk about a two-by-four in the back of the head. That's what this is," said School Board member Bob Parks, who favors redrawing boundaries. "The data screams that you don't need it."
 

The problem: Most of the crowded schools are in southwest Broward, and most of the empty desks are in central and east Broward.

Changing boundaries at just a few schools makes "people go berserk," said board member Maureen Dinnen, who hasn't made up her mind but worries that waiting could drive up land costs.

A decision must be made soon. The state approved the new school when classrooms were bursting countywide. If the district does not buy the land and sign a construction contract by Oct. 31, the state must re-approve the campus. And such approval may be unlikely now, given Broward's empty classrooms, said Schools Superintendent Jim Notter.

The two parcels, according to district documents and officials:

• 30 acres at Southwest 36th Street and South Post Road in Weston owned by land developer Ron Bergeron, a reluctant seller in a city desperate for a new high school. Bergeron bought the property for $1 million in 2000. The school system appraisal price came in at $10 million, and a district committee recommended a maximum offer of $11.7 million. Bergeron wants $24 million. He could not be reached for comment despite three phone calls to his office. In the past, Bergeron said he wanted the property condemned so he wouldn't be taxed on the profits for three years.

• 32 acres at Southwest 26th Street and Flamingo Road in Davie owned by brothers Daniel, Troy and Wayne Weekley, eager sellers in a town vehemently opposed to the school partly because it takes land off the tax rolls. Though school officials won't say specifically what the appraisal price is, they say the asking price, $14.4 million, is about twice the appraised value. The Weekley brothers began buying the land little-by-little six years ago, with a goal of selling.

"There are not many 30-acre parcels left. That's why we were willing to invest our money into it," said Daniel Weekley, who along with his brothers owns Weekley Asphalt Paving, which does business with private developers and local governments, including Fort Lauderdale, Davie and the school district.

"If the School Board wants it, they can take it. If they don't, they don't. It will be developed into something."

High School MMM has been on the books since at least 2001. The new school was part of a $3.4 billion plan to add classrooms throughout Broward to meet the state's 2011 class-size amendment deadline. Broward has already added 192 new high school classrooms for about $38 million.

But enrollment started to slide in 2005-06, reflecting an overall dip in the county population. And now, many desks are empty.

"Nobody really predicted 55,800 people exiting," Superintendent James Notter said about Broward's overall two-year population decline to 1.76 million this year.

Most of the under-enrolled high schools, including seven that recently received new classrooms, are in central and eastern Broward. Blanche Ely, Dillard and Fort Lauderdale high schools, for example, were each under-enrolled by more than 800 students this school year.

There are, however, still high schools bursting at the seams. Most are in southwest Broward: Cypress Bay, Everglades, Flanagan and Miramar.

"There's a need for a school out here," said Byron Jaffe, a Weston parent and civic activist who has pushed for the new campus. The schools with space are not in places where they are needed, Jaffe said, and using them as a reason not to build MMM "is a weak excuse."

Some relief is coming thanks to pending boundary changes and West Broward High School, a new $120 million campus in Pembroke Pines opening this fall.

 

Money tight

Redrawing boundaries "has always been a short-term solution," said Jaffe, whose children next year will enter Cypress Bay in Weston — currently the largest high school in the nation, with about 5,500 students. "My intent in this whole process was never to [move] out all of these people from Cypress Bay but to get a new school."

Change boundary lines to ship those students to the under-enrolled schools, and "you could have World War III on your hands," said Dinnen, whose district covers Plantation and eastern Fort Lauderdale.

Building a new high school would be easier for the board, said parent-activist Nick Sakhnovsky, vice chairman of the Facilities Task Force, a district oversight committee.

"They would probably rather spend money than deal with boundaries," Sakhnovsky said. "Even though they don't want to spend the money, and, to be frank, they don't really know if they have the money."

District administrators say they don't know exactly how South Florida's poor economy and recent statewide tax cuts will affect funding, but they know their budget will take a hit. Already this school year, money from the state to the district has been cut by about $68.4 million. And, they're expecting a $325 million drop in construction money over the next five years.

Notter expects High School MMM's cost to match the $120 million price on West Broward High in Pembroke Pines. When asked if the district can afford a new high school, Notter said other projects would be sacrificed.

The School Board must make a decision on MMM and its overall school construction wish list, which must be approved by the Florida Department of Education by Oct. 31. If it doesn't ink a deal by then, the new school would have to be re-approved by the state as part of the district's next five-year construction plan. The district must get permission from the state to build the new school.

"We need to be proactive and secure a site, especially since land is scarce at this point," said Board Chairwoman Robin Bartleman, who represents the district countywide. "Five years from now, there will be growth in west Broward — still."

By Akilah Johnson and Kathy Bushouse | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Akilah Johnson can be reached at akjohnson@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4527.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/education/sfl-flbmmm0413sbapr13,0,1262672.story

Posted April 1, 2008

The pictures below are of a vehicle that continues to park his Transportation Vehicle in front of our development. He and another truck driver park their trucks all night on the northwest side of Stirling at the entrance to Hawkes Bluff and the southeast side of Stirling at the entrance to Waverly. Sometimes their running lights are left on all night that bothers the residents living behind where they park. Not only is this an eye-sore for all residents, it is illegal.  This driver continues to do this every week. If anyone knows these individuals please tell them to park elsewhere.

Posted March 14, 2008

Posted March 10, 2008

Posted March 9, 2008

If you attend this meeting, please speak. Speak your mind on the politics, process and your wishes.

IF you are going and wish to speak, be at the Plantation High Auditorium before 5:30pm THIS THURSDAY, March 13^th, (Address Below).

On a positive note: The website for West Broward indicates all sports with the exception of Varsity Football will be offered. If there is enough interest teams will be fielded.   I also spoke to an assistant principal who confirmed this and that an Athletic Director was hired.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

FIRST READING CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREAS/BOUNDARIES AND SCHOOL USAGE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ALL HIGH SCHOOLS IN BROWARD COUNTY FOR THE 2008-09 SCHOOL YEAR

      ON

                  THURSDAY, MARCH 13, 2008

TO BE HELD AT

PLANTATION HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

6901 NW 16^th STREET

PLANTATION, FLORIDA 33313Last chance

5:30 P.M. 

All High School proposals for the public hearing scheduled March 13, 2008 are on the School Boundaries Web site at:

http://www.browardschools.com/schoolboundaries

For all other High Schools in the district that are not listed below, attendance areas will be the same in the
2008-09 school year as they were in the 2007-08 school year or will follow previously approved grade phase ins.

 Notice is hereby given that a Public Hearing and FIRST Reading will be held by the  School Board of Broward County, Florida, under its rule making authority F.S. 1001.41 and implementing F.S. 1001.42 on Thursday, March 13, 2008 at 5:30 P.M. in the Plantation High School auditorium, located at 6901 NW 16^th Street, Plantation, Florida, 33313 on the SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SCHOOL ATTENDANCE AREAS/BOUNDARIES AND SCHOOL USAGE for all high schools in the district, for the 2008-09 school year, as discussed below:

Superintendent's Memorandum Regarding the 2008-09 School Attendance Areas/Boundaries and School Usage Recommendations

                  A HIGH SCHOOLS SUMMARY OF INTENDED ACTION:

It is proposed that:

H-1:    Remove Choice Area from Plantation High School to South Plantation High School

Remove choice seats at South Plantation High School for ninth through twelfth grade students residing in a portion of the Plantation High School attendance area.

Commence at the intersection of NW 28 Court extended and Hiatus Road, south along Hiatus Road to Sunrise Boulevard, east along Sunrise Boulevard to Pine Island Road, south along Pine Island Road to the C-12 Canal, west along the
C-12 Canal to the canal west of NW 99 Avenue extended, south along the canal west of NW 99 Avenue extended to Broward Boulevard, west along Broward Boulevard to Flamingo Road, north along Flamingo Road to east along NW 28 Court extended, NW 28 Court extended to Hiatus Road.                                          

H-2:    Establish the Attendance Area for West Broward High School (“LLL”)

Establish the attendance area for West Broward High School (LLL.)  Adjust the attendance area for Everglades and Cypress Bay High Schools so that ninth through eleventh grade students attend West Broward High School (LLL) in 2008-09.  Ninth through twelfth grade students attend West Broward High School (LLL) in 2009-10.

Commence at the intersection of Flamingo Road/SW 124 Avenue and Griffin Road, south along Flamingo Road/SW 124 Avenue to Sheridan Street, west along Sheridan Street to canal east of NW 167 Avenue extended, south along canal east of NW 167 Avenue extended to Pines Boulevard, east along Pines Boulevard to SW 160 Avenue, south along SW 160 Avenue to canal extended to SW 161 Avenue, west along canal extended to canal adjacent to SW 164 Avenue, north along canal adjacent to SW 164 Avenue to canal adjacent to SW 7 Street, west along canal adjacent to SW 7 Street to canal adjacent to SW 168 Way, north along canal adjacent to SW 168 Way to SW 1 Court, west along SW 1 Court to SW 172 Avenue, north along SW 172 Avenue to Pines Boulevard, west along Pines Boulevard to SW 184 Avenue, south along SW 184 Avenue to Pembroke Road, west along Pembroke Road to Conservation Area, north along Conservation Area to Griffin Road, east along Griffin Road to Flamingo Road/SW 124 Avenue.

 H-3:   Cypress Bay High School to Western High School

Adjust the attendance area of Cypress Bay High School so that ninth through eleventh grade students attend Western High School in 2008-09.  Ninth through twelfth grade students will attend Western High School in 2009-10.

 Commence at the intersection of Interstate 75 and Weston Road, south along Weston Road to Indian Trace, west along Indian Trace to Bonaventure Boulevard, north along Bonaventure Boulevard to canal south of SW 5 Way extended, west along canal south of SW 5 Way extended to canal west of SW 169 Terrace extended, north along canal west of SW 169 Terrace extended to Interstate 75, east along Interstate 75 to Weston Road.

 H-4:    Miramar High School to Everglades High School

Posted February 22, 2008

Hello, everyone here is a story that the Sun-Sentinel wrote on this issue. Thank you all so much for taking such a pro-active role and informing me, the Town of Southwest Ranches and the Broward Sheriff's office of this issue. Because of your desire and commitment to keep our community safe, these individuals on parole were rightfully removed from this land. Thank you again, as always I am so proud of our residents.

Take care,

Rep. Martin David Kiar

South Florida Sun-Sentinel.com
Homeless felons bounced from Everglades and Cooper City camps
By Kathleen Kernicky
Sun-Sentinel.com
3:55 PM EST, February 19, 2008
Homeless felons, including registered sex offenders, have been forced by deputies to move from a campsite near the Everglades in Southwest Ranches and from an eight-acre site in Cooper City.

Late last week, eight men were evicted from a wooded site near U.S. 27 and Griffin Road that is owned by the South Florida Water Management District. The district did not want them there, said Broward Sheriff's Office Commander George Jarboe.

On Tuesday, four men were told to vacate a private, eight-acre site near the 5000 block of Flamingo Road in Cooper City. The site was too close to a place where children gather, said Gretl Plessinger, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Corrections.

Some of the men have been forced to move several times because state law requires that registered sex offenders live at least 1,000 feet from schools, parks, bus stops and places where children congregate. Many South Florida cities have similar or stricter ordinances.

The men's presence set off alarms in Southwest Ranches, where a mass email circulated over the weekend.

"They had tents, barbecue grills, generators. Quite an elaborate campsite," said Jarboe, who did not know how long the men had been living there.

"We contacted them and their probation officers and told them they were trespassing, and they needed to move. They said, 'no problem.' When we went to check on them [ Saturday], they were gone," Jarboe said.

Plessinger said it is not the state's responsibility to find housing for the offenders.

"It's their job to find a residence. It's our job to approve the residence," said Plessinger, who said there are less than 40 registered sex offenders statewide who are homeless and on probation. The majority live in South Florida, including 16 who live under the Julia Tuttle Causeway bridge in Miami Beach, she said.

"It is becoming increasingly difficult for them to find a place to live," Plessinger said. "Some of these offenders have looked at a dozen different residences, and each has been too close to a school or a bus stop or a place" where they are banned.

State Rep. Martin Kiar, D-Davie, who received an email from a Southwest Ranches resident complaining about the Everglades camp, has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would require sex offenders and predators to list their cell phone numbers. Now, they are required to give addresses and email, but not phone numbers.

Scott Barrocas

Legislative Aide to Representative Martin David Kiar

House of Representatives

(850) 487-1588

(954) 346-2813

Posted February 18, 2008

Parolees living in the woods near the corner of Griffin and US 27

Reported by Mark Modrich

Posted February 13, 2008

Dear friends and neighbors,

Please forward this to whomever you might feel would be interested.

As you may know, today the School Board held a workshop regarding boundaries for West Broward High (LLL). You will read about this event in the newspaper’s tomorrow 2/14.

To frame this letter, last Wednesday, Phyllis Hope spoke to Davie Town Council attempting to have them NOT approve a resolution opposing the MMM site on 26^th Street and Flamingo, which we as a neighborhood generally approve. She requested time (two weeks)  to give the school Board the time needed to further negotiate and asked for the Towns help. Specifically, Tom Truex was very verbal and actually confrontational…. at the end, she was not successful and the resolution passed 4-1 with Bryan Caletka dissenting.  The Town Council did support  a resolution supporting scenario 4.3, in a 3-2 vote, with Tom Truex and Mike Crowley dissenting. In saying this…

Today was NOT a good day for our cause to try and keep our children at Cypress Bay. In a straw poll of the board members, after much discussion, it appeared to be at least 5 and possibly six to approve 4.1 (S), which effectively takes ALL students south of Griffin Road, including SWRanches east and west to LLL (West Broward). The school board cannot officially vote, however it appears regardless of what happens at the official “PUBLIC HEARINGS”, we will not have 4.3 (The community compromise map) passed by this school board, unless something drastic occurs... like a lawsuit or intervention by other public entities, like the Florida Department of Education. I do not think this kind of activity will occur at this time.

This was and is a very political event and there were apparently a load of pressure applied from many directions. Obviously we are not very politically connected.

In fact, Superintendent Notter opened the meeting by completely endorsing 4.1. based on the current set of circumstances they are dealing with.  This is a case where we appear to have been excluded from the process. This School Board does NOT care about anything but numbers to reduce Cypress Bay and the political forces in Weston have effectively “won their vote” for this round. It is NOT right, and this “decision” did not consider changes in Class Size amendment, or MMM being built. They dismissed these ever changing items and rather cut apart the 4.3 scenario based on numbers, feeder patterns, busing and with the facts we are currently under. They had set in motion very early on that 4.1 was the “golden” scenario. IF PASSED after the next TWO public hearings, it will be official. This will make Cypress Bay High an EXCLUSIVE Weston High School. Once we are out, we will never go back. We should make West Broward High the best school in the county. One item that did come up was that our own area was NOT 100% supporting 4.3. The area TAZ 611 especially was noted by Stephanie Kraft as having many, many letters upset that they were not left at Cypress Bay and this was used against the “community” map. This recent action did weaken our case, which many predicted this action by the residents would. While we understand the concern, we also knew this whole deal was driven by sheer numbers and in the end, we only had 120 or so more students at CBHS than Map 4.1.

Now our decision will be WHAT TO DO NEXT??? Should we attend the PUBLIC hearings (TIMES BELOW) and speak loudly against this 4.1 scenario. There will be many addendums added and these will be very long nights, bring your blankets and coffee. I anticipate 500 or more parents in attendance protesting this workshop “decision” and the exclusion of the items that will change this decision, like MMM and class size. In addition, the “WESTON” parents will be their supporting their case to keep their semi-private High school all to themselves, paid for by us, the tax payers, without the ability to attend the school closest to our home.

or…. Do you as a community wish to just go with the decision and attend West Broward and get away from this insanity?

The Town of Davie should also be ashamed not to support our needs as a “whole” community as well, by opposing the 26^th street site. I believe the Town has lost a load of respect here in Ivanhoe and at the school Board level.

The school board has officially said, they will try and build MMM, however, if that happens, they will either make the school smaller, OR try and bounced part or all of us back to Cypress Bay or MMM. This was something we all could see happening as early as November last year. Most of us do not believe MMM will be built and in fact, the school Board discussed NOT building NN Middle school (the ninth grade annex) at all, but use the land for administrative needs/offices.

Many things can happen, however, it is believed the following could occur.

Þ      MMM may not be built at all and the other schools may be super-sized.

Þ      S W R’s parents will have a longer drive and over dangerous routes to get to LLL.

Þ      We may be forced to move two more times in four to five years as kids matriculate through the system.

Þ      Class size will be loosened and the requirement and rush to move all of us was un-needed.

Þ      MMM might be built and we would be forced to move again to fill the school.

We need to know from YOU, the parents what you wish to do…Please also ask you children to stay above this controversy and not be upset, as they might hear comments from other students. Let us know if this does occur and please contact the school guidance department immediately with your concern and report the incident to the school.  In addition, let us know what occurred, so we can keep a record of the inappropriate activities, if they occur.

Please let us know what you wish to do, so we can either keep up the pressure or not.

Best regards,

John Pickett - Hawkes Bluff

Posted February 8, 2008

Posted February 4, 2008

Today, at 6:30 a.m. a man was arrested on Ravenswick terr. after he was found hiding behind some bushes, under a homeowners window. The window was at his daughter's bedroom. After a violent struggle with the homeowner and then finally some neighbors, he was held until the police arrived. The suspect is a 34yr. old male that lives in pembroke pines. His record has shown he has done this before. When he was caught this morning, his zipper was down. Please pass this on to friends, family and/or neighbors and remind them to keep their doors locked and windows closed. Keep a look out for each other and don't be afraid to call the police if anything in our neighborhood look suspicious.  Thanks, Al Hollinger

Update February 8, 2008

Posted January 27, 2008

The Town of Davie will hold its first public workshop on the Local Road Master Plan

Workshop will be held on February 7, 2008 6:30pm - 8:00pm at the Davie Police Station 1230 South Nob Hill Road

For more information contact the Planning and Zoning division at 954-797-1103. Councilmembers may be present.

Posted January 12, 2008

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Action needed before the Davie Town Council Meeting - 7pm –THIS  Wednesday January 16^th!!!!

Please read this e-mail, especially if you have school aged children or forward to friends with school aged children.

The following are events that have occurred regarding a new high school site and school boundaries that may change affecting us here in Ivanhoe. I have them listed separately, however they are all really one issue that fits together…. kind of like a political puzzle.

Þ      High School MMM will be built on one of two preferred 30 acre sites. In DAVIE, at SW 26^th Street and Flamingo Road on the EAST side of Flamingo, is the site preferred by the superintendent of schools.

The second site is in WESTON, on 36^th Street just west and slightly North of Cypress Bay High. Sometime before March a decision on one of these sites will be made by the school board. The problem is the 26^th Street site still has a lot of studies to be completed.

Þ      Negotiations on the two sites have NOT started with the landowners, Dan Weekley who owns the Davie site or Ron Bergeron, who owns the Weston site.

Þ      A contract must be signed on the land by October 2008.

Þ      Sue Starkey and Bryan Caletka have both lobbied AGAINST the site in Davie, citing neighborhood wishes not to have the school built there. Close proximity to the nearest high school, Traffic, noise, lights, loss of tax revenue and crime were also cited. The neighbors at the WESTON site are also lobbying against that site due to the same arguments. Neither site is perfect. (New Information – The school board staff site presentation to citizens was well attended and most complaints were from people living close to the site, with few speaking for the site. Only a very few parents of school aged children showed to complain, (most don’t have an opinion). Sue Starkey spoke AGAINST the site with Bryan Caletka not in attendance)

Þ      The Davie site is currently less expensive and is currently showing a shorter time frame for construction than the Weston site.

Þ      For THIS YEAR AUGUST 2008, IVANHOE children are in the middle of a High School boundary debate with a vote in March to send us possibly to “LLL” at Johnson and US 27. (NEW INFORMATION – The only CAR entrance to LLL is at PINES BLVD near the Post office, which is FARTHER for our travel time).

Þ      In addition, THESE boundaries INCLUDE 700-800 WESTON kids attending WESTERN HIGH> ( NEW INFORMATION – The 36 classroom addition needed to move the WESTON kids, will NOT be ready until Summer 2009)

Þ      The main reason for the boundary discussions were 1) the class size amendment will force 25 kids per class and Cypress Bay would NOT meet the requirement and 2) Cypress Bay is overcrowded. NEW INFORMATION – In today’s Sun-Sentinel, the Florida legislature is proposing HIGHER LIMITS on class size to keep an AVERAGE of 25 with a cap of FIVE additional. THIS will be a great thing for our concerns and could make MOOT the need for ANY boundary Changes - YES!!!!)

Þ      NOW the MOST IMPORTANT piece RIGHT NOW is DAVIE is bringing up in OLD BUSINESS at THIS WEDNESDAY’S meeting the MMM site proposal in DAVIE. OUR BEST GUESS is that the DAVIE COUNCIL will try and decide to either ENDORSE the site OR OPPOSE the DAVIE site.

Þ      ALSO – NO Changes to the current Boundary ! !

Þ       

Þ      ACTION NEEDED:

        Þ      WE NEED the DAVIE site to at LEAST continue to be considered along with the WESTON site. We must say what we want, either by E-MAIL to DAVIE council, or show up at Wednesday’s meeting to speak/show support or MAKE PHONE CALLS asking that the DAVIE SCHOOL SITE NOT be opposed. WE NEED that DAVIE site to be at LEAST considered with NO changes to the CURRENT Boundaries. Contact BOTH the Davie town council AND the school board members.

Þ      WE NEED MMM Built

 IF we are boundared OUT of Cypress Bay this March, and a site is NOT yet Chosen, we MAY be having to attend LLL forever, or may be AGAIN re-boundared back to Cypress Bay down the road once MMM is built. The main concern for us is that the Davie Site will be up in 3 -4 years, but the Weston site might take five-six years. WE need to DEMAND the DAVIE site be chosen, simply because of the timeframes involved. If you DO wish to attend LLL, let them know that as well. We just think there SHOULD be two sites to negotiate with and why “KILL” the Davie site NOW, when it is not in our best interests or the best for the kids?

IF our boundary issue is tabled or remains as is for this year, then the site selection is less of an issue.

If you have questions, please e-mail me and I will answer what I can or call me at 954-296-7800.

Information on BOTH sites are found at the Broward School Board SITE

Ivanhoe Civic Association

John Pickett

Posted January 3, 2008

Dear friends and neighbors,

Happy new year.

Below please read the recent Sun-Sentinel article asking that we as residents show up next Tuesday at 7pm, at Western High’s auditorium. There will be a presentation of high school site MMM at 26^th Street and Flamingo Road that may effect Ivanhoe, West Davie and SW Ranches.

As we know, and by the article, our Davie council members Susan Starkey and Bryan Caletka are current opposed to any high school on Flamingo. They generally feel this is a “Weston” problem, even though we as Davie Ivanhoe and SW Ranches residents are being proposed to be bussed out to “LLL” or West Broward High on Johnson and US 27. The article quotes Ms. Starkey as stating the school at Flamingo will “domino” kids and “tear our community apart”.  These statements I believe, are less than accurate statements that bring negativity to having a new school in Davie. Before we can even HEAR about the plans, we are being told “NO”. Let us at least see what the plans are and HOW the site might affect us before making judgments.  Many, many communities in South Florida and basically the United States would embrace a plan to have a new high school, however some residents and council members are opposed…

Many on the school board and in Davie think there are no down sides to the Flamingo site, with the exception of probable traffic concerns on Flamingo, which will occur anyway with any kind of development on Flamingo. The opposition may also be about taxes that Davie will not gain by commercially developing the property and the fact that the competing site (in Weston) is owned by a longtime Davie resident and developer, who has close ties to many in the Town.

The fact is (as indicated in the article) the Flamingo site is estimated at 24.6 MILLION dollars less expensive and will take a full year less to build.

The true fact is we all want the school built at the least expensive and quickest site, since WE, here in Ivanhoe, are some of the students being possibly sent to “LLL”, which we all know is quite a distance to travel. No doubt, it will be a great school. Our district councilmember Marlon Luis, is generally supportive of the Flamingo site, but wants to hear more from US, as residents.

We also need to send a clearer message to the school board members that these proposed boundary changes may NOT be needed... If the School Board can find a better way to schedule or find better solutions to the overcrowding and class size concerns. NOBODY wants to move out of Cypress Bay High and the best solution, would be NO CHANGE, IF it is feasible!

Thanks in advance for showing up on Tuesday and voicing your opinion, be it for or against the Davie School site for “MMM”.

Opinions sought from Davie residents on new high school

By Susannah Bryan | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

DAVIE - Broward schools Superintendent James Notter wants to know what Davie residents think about building a new high school in town to relieve crowding at Cypress Bay High in Weston.

At the Town Council's request, Notter has scheduled a public meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to solicit community input on plans to put the school in Davie. The meeting will be in the auditorium at Western High School, 1200 SW 136th Ave.

School Board officials have said they will let cost determine where the county's newest high school will go: a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street in Davie or a swath of land on the edge of the Everglades in Weston.

The school has been dubbed MMM until a name is chosen.

Building the school at the Davie intersection would cost $97.1 million and take about four years, the cheapest and quickest option. Building the school in Weston would cost $121.7 million and take five years.

Tom Coates, the school system's site acquisition director, came to Davie Town Hall in late December to let the council know about the proposed community meeting.

Vice Mayor Bryan Caletka told Coates he was "vehemently against" a new high school coming to Davie because it was bad for the town's tax rolls and students.

"You're going to have a very tough sell when it comes to my vote," Caletka said.

Councilwoman Susan Starkey told Coates the school should be built in Weston, where most of the kids who need the new school live.

"It will domino our kids," she said, predicting that Davie children would be moved to other schools to make way for kids from Weston.

Earlier this year, some Weston residents loudly opposed the district's proposal to build the school on land owned by the Bonaventure Country Club.

"This issue will end up tearing our community apart just like it did in Weston," Starkey said.