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Forest Glen Middle School Families Rally to Save A-Rated Campus as Broward Board Nears Closure Vote
Students, parents and teachers rallied outside Forest Glen Middle School on Friday to oppose its potential closure, urging the Broward County School Board to invest in the A-rated neighborhood campus instead of shutting it down in a Dec. 15 vote on 10 district schools.
Students, teachers and parents gathered outside Forest Glen Middle School after classes dismissed Friday to protest the school's possible closure, pressing the Broward County School Board to keep the A-rated neighborhood campus open ahead of a scheduled Dec. 15 vote.
The board is set to decide whether to shut down 10 additional schools across the district as enrollment continues to decline. Forest Glen has appeared on the district's proposed closure list for two years, an uncertainty supporters say has itself pushed families away and accelerated the student exodus.
Demonstrators emphasized that many Forest Glen students walk or bike to campus, making it a true neighborhood school. They also raised concerns about how the district calculates the school's capacity: Broward County Public Schools uses one of the campus buildings for administrative offices, which community members say distorts the official student-capacity figure used in closure decisions.
Rather than closing the doors, the school community called on district leaders to provide more resources and support to help rebuild enrollment.
"There's more heart to this school than other schools, and social life is amazing; that's what makes it so personal to me," student Jace Guell said.
Teacher Megan Weller acknowledged the district-wide enrollment declines but said the faculty is ready to bring families back if given the backing to do so.
"I understand the district is losing students, but if they can support us, we are so ready to bring them back," Weller said.
The rally reflects growing anxiety across Broward County as the school board weighs a fresh round of closures. For Forest Glen families, the two-year stretch on the closure list has already reshaped the school's future, and they argue the answer is investment, not elimination.
The Dec. 15 vote will determine whether Forest Glen and nine other schools remain open.