Scott Travis
@smtravis.bsky.social
Reporter, South Florida Sun Sentinel. My focus is on education.
Broward schools plan to cut costs by moving some high school graduation ceremonies from performing arts centers and a university arena to school gymnasiums, sparking a backlash among some students and parents.
www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/b...
www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/b...
Broward moves some high school graduations to gymnasiums, sparking backlash
The plans to hold most graduations on high school campuses is expected to save about $500,000, but some parents and students say it’s the wrong place to cut.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 17, 2026 at 3:05 PM
Broward schools plan to cut costs by moving some high school graduation ceremonies from performing arts centers and a university arena to school gymnasiums, sparking a backlash among some students and parents.
www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/b...
www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/17/b...
DeSantis declares Broward School District 'disaster,' and says placing it in receivership might be needed
DeSantis declares Broward School District ‘disaster,’ and says placing it in receivership might be needed
Gov. Ron DeSantis excoriated the Broward School District for a “laundry list of failures” and suggested it’s been so impervious to reform that placing it in receivership might be an option.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 12, 2026 at 6:49 PM
DeSantis declares Broward School District 'disaster,' and says placing it in receivership might be needed
Broward schools to investigate administrators related to botched construction oversight effort www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/08/b...
Broward schools to investigate administrators related to botched construction oversight effort
Two Broward schools administrators face personnel investigations after an audit revealed failures in the district’s attempt to hire a company to oversee construction, the superintendent said.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 8, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Broward schools to investigate administrators related to botched construction oversight effort www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/08/b...
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff
The School Board also agreed to ask the district’s chief auditor to investigate why the most senior employees were added to the pool of employees who received referendum dollars.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff
The School Board also agreed to ask the district’s chief auditor to investigate why the most senior employees were added to the pool of employees who received referendum dollars.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 6, 2026 at 9:40 PM
Referendum bonuses to end for highest-paid Broward school staff www.sun-sentinel.com/2026/01/06/r...
Lori Alhadeff says she won’t seek reelection on Broward School Board
Lori Alhadeff says she won’t seek reelection on Broward School Board
Lori Alhadeff is endorsing longtime educator and fellow Parkland resident Sharry Kimmel to replace her for the District 4 seat, which includes northwest Broward.
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 5, 2026 at 11:59 AM
Lori Alhadeff says she won’t seek reelection on Broward School Board
A voter-approved tax increase that was pitched as a way to help teachers afford to live in Broward County was expanded to provide supplements of more than $10,000 to some of the highest-paid employees in the Broward school district.
Higher-paid Broward school staff got referendum payments. It shouldn’t have happened, board members say.
A spokesman said the School Board approved supplements to stay competitive with other districts. But some School Board members said they don’t remember approving them for some of the highest-…
www.sun-sentinel.com
January 3, 2026 at 3:28 PM
A voter-approved tax increase that was pitched as a way to help teachers afford to live in Broward County was expanded to provide supplements of more than $10,000 to some of the highest-paid employees in the Broward school district.
Broward schools operations chief Wanda Paul to resign following construction, office rental debacles.
Broward schools operations chief to resign following construction, office rental debacles
Wanda Paul submitted her resignation letter Sunday evening, the same day School Board member Adam Cervera called for her to step down and amidst two significant controversies.
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Broward schools operations chief Wanda Paul to resign following construction, office rental debacles.
A breach of trust imperils Broward schools | Editorial www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/26/a...
A breach of trust imperils Broward schools | Editorial
Two more embarrassing high-level controversies in Broward County Public Schools underscore the need for major changes in the weeks ahead, the Editorial Board finds.
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:24 PM
A breach of trust imperils Broward schools | Editorial www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/12/26/a...
Reposted by Scott Travis
BIG NEWS: The SunSentinel Guild voted unanimously to ratify a historic contract.
The two-year contract will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. @newsguild.org @cwaunion.bsky.social
The two-year contract will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. @newsguild.org @cwaunion.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
BIG NEWS: The SunSentinel Guild voted unanimously to ratify a historic contract.
The two-year contract will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. @newsguild.org @cwaunion.bsky.social
The two-year contract will provide two years of raises, a $1,500 bonus and job protections from artificial intelligence, among other benefits. @newsguild.org @cwaunion.bsky.social
The Broward schools superintendent has declared an emergency for the district’s troubled construction program, writing in a memo that a potential lapse in management could create a risk of school closures and possibly even “injury or death.”
Broward schools chief: ‘Emergency’ now exists for troubled construction program
Superintendent Howard Hepburn wrote in a memo on Thursday that a potential lapse in construction management could create a risk of school closures and possibly even “injury or death.”
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The Broward schools superintendent has declared an emergency for the district’s troubled construction program, writing in a memo that a potential lapse in management could create a risk of school closures and possibly even “injury or death.”
'A five-alarm fire': Broward schools to take emergency action on construction
‘A five-alarm fire’: Broward schools to take emergency action on construction
Broward School Board members said district staff defied the direction of the School Board and placed the district’s construction program in jeopardy.
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 17, 2025 at 10:29 PM
'A five-alarm fire': Broward schools to take emergency action on construction
Gov. Ron DeSantis is a big fan of Success Academy. He isn’t thrilled that competitor Mater Academy (owned by Academica) has made requests to open Schools of Hope all over, including at high-performing schools in affluent areas. He said it won’t happen.
DeSantis says Schools of Hope will be limited to ‘toughest areas’ of Florida
Charter schools known as “Schools of Hope” won’t be taking over high-performing schools, but will instead be limited to the “toughest areas” in the state, Gov. Ron DeS…
www.sun-sentinel.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Gov. Ron DeSantis is a big fan of Success Academy. He isn’t thrilled that competitor Mater Academy (owned by Academica) has made requests to open Schools of Hope all over, including at high-performing schools in affluent areas. He said it won’t happen.
Broward schools’ $2.6 million office rental contract plagued by missteps
Broward schools’ $2.6 million office rental contract plagued by missteps
Superintendent Howard Hepburn sent School Board members a three-page after-action review about the Handy building leasing and updated it following questions from the Sun Sentinel.
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Broward schools’ $2.6 million office rental contract plagued by missteps
Broward schools reversed course on a controversial school schedule change. The proposed $35 million cost-cutting measure ended the same way it began a few weeks ago —behind closed doors.
Broward schools reverse course on controversial schedule change
The proposal would have ended traditional block scheduling and personalization periods, or study halls, in secondary schools and limited the ability of teachers to make extra money by teaching clas…
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 19, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Broward schools reversed course on a controversial school schedule change. The proposed $35 million cost-cutting measure ended the same way it began a few weeks ago —behind closed doors.
A roof collapse at Rickards Middle School became a symbol of the many problems with construction in Broward schools, and a project to rebuild the school has done little to restore confidence.
Rebuild of Rickards Middle School, site of roof collapse, delayed by structural issues
The Rickards gymnasium, one of two large buildings planned for the campus, has received a red tag, or an order requiring any work to stop, due to inspection issues.
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A roof collapse at Rickards Middle School became a symbol of the many problems with construction in Broward schools, and a project to rebuild the school has done little to restore confidence.
Charter school operators seek to share 46 Palm Beach County campuses. Some schools got multiple requests.
Charter school operators seek to share 46 Palm Beach County campuses
The Palm Beach County School District received requests from three charter school providers expressing their intent to open “Schools of Hope” in 2027.
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Charter school operators seek to share 46 Palm Beach County campuses. Some schools got multiple requests.
This was surprising. Duval County School District, like many districts & govt agencies, has a portal to submit public records requests. But unlike others, it charges $7 service fee. When did service fees qualify as allowable charges? They're usually limited to copying & extensive staff time.
November 12, 2025 at 7:39 PM
This was surprising. Duval County School District, like many districts & govt agencies, has a portal to submit public records requests. But unlike others, it charges $7 service fee. When did service fees qualify as allowable charges? They're usually limited to copying & extensive staff time.
A lot of tension at Broward School Board meeting over employee discipline. Many firings and suspensions were on agenda today & union groups say recommendations were capricious or overly harsh. Most were postponed for further review. Here’s a resolution from employee groups.
November 12, 2025 at 6:47 PM
A lot of tension at Broward School Board meeting over employee discipline. Many firings and suspensions were on agenda today & union groups say recommendations were capricious or overly harsh. Most were postponed for further review. Here’s a resolution from employee groups.
Broward schools superintendent aces first yearly evaluation.
Broward schools superintendent aces first yearly evaluation
The eight Broward School Board members who filled out the evaluations rated Superintendent Howard Hepburn as highly effective, the top score available.
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Broward schools superintendent aces first yearly evaluation.
The Broward School Board plans to reconsider its decision to enter into a $2.6 million office rental contract, a move that had raised concerns as the school district faces major budget cuts and has plenty of extra space in school buildings.
Broward School Board to reconsider $2.6 million rental property amid budget concerns
A special meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m. Tuesday to vote on whether to rescind a five-year agreement the Broward School Board approved June 17 with Handy, a nonprofit group.
www.sun-sentinel.com
November 3, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The Broward School Board plans to reconsider its decision to enter into a $2.6 million office rental contract, a move that had raised concerns as the school district faces major budget cuts and has plenty of extra space in school buildings.
I spoke Friday on WLRN radio about the effort by charter schools to move into traditional public school campuses. You can catch the discussion, which also features traditional school advocate Crystal Etienne, at the link.
www.wlrn.org/podcast/the-...
www.wlrn.org/podcast/the-...
Charter schools in public schools, the world's most revered Holocaust witness and Argentina's election
On this episode of The South Florida Roundup, we tried try to understand why and how charter schools can literally move into public schools like South Florida’s — and enjoy public school resources…for...
www.wlrn.org
October 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I spoke Friday on WLRN radio about the effort by charter schools to move into traditional public school campuses. You can catch the discussion, which also features traditional school advocate Crystal Etienne, at the link.
www.wlrn.org/podcast/the-...
www.wlrn.org/podcast/the-...
Broward Schools have agreed to pay $2.6 million over the next five years to rent space in an office building for 75 employees, despite the district facing severe budget cuts and having plenty of room at underenrolled schools.
www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/24/a...
www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/24/a...
‘A total mistake’: $2.6 million Broward schools office rental raises questions
The Broward school district’s decision to rent office space, rather than use its own, could hurt its efforts to limit charter schools from occupying empty space in its schools.
www.sun-sentinel.com
October 24, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Broward Schools have agreed to pay $2.6 million over the next five years to rent space in an office building for 75 employees, despite the district facing severe budget cuts and having plenty of room at underenrolled schools.
www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/24/a...
www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/24/a...
Charter school operator seeks to co-locate on 27 Broward school campuses rent free.
Charter school operator seeks to co-locate on 27 Broward school campuses rent free
Miami-based Mater Academy wants to operate “Schools of Hope” on Broward public school campuses starting in August 2027 under a new state law that would allow them to operate rent free.
www.sun-sentinel.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Charter school operator seeks to co-locate on 27 Broward school campuses rent free.
Broward could close 7 schools under the latest proposal. Here's what to know. www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/04/b...
Broward could close 7 schools under the latest proposal. Here’s what to know.
Broward could have at least seven fewer elementary and middle schools due to closures and consolidations next year, under the district’s latest proposal to address underenrollment.
www.sun-sentinel.com
October 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Broward could close 7 schools under the latest proposal. Here's what to know. www.sun-sentinel.com/2025/10/04/b...