Broward Schools Office Rental Raises Questions

The Broward School district has agreed to pay $2.6 million over the next five years to rent space in an office building for 75 employees, despite facing severe budget cuts and having plenty of room at underenrolled schools. This decision has sparked controversy and raised questions about the district’s financial priorities.

Background

The School Board approved the rental agreement on June 17 with the nonprofit group Handy, whose name stands for Helping Advance and Nurture the Development of Youth, to house facilities staff. The cost is more than $500,000 a year for five years. However, some board members are now having second thoughts as the district suffered a $77 million shortfall this past year, and a charter school company has already made a request to operate inside 27 mostly low-enrolled schools.

Concerns About the Decision

Board member Allen Zeman told the South Florida Sun Sentinel, "It was a total mistake. We literally have tons and tons of space. So why wouldn’t you move into a middle school or high school that has dozens of classrooms available that you can convert into space? You can take over a whole wing." The district has at least 50,000 more seats than students, which equates to more than 2,000 empty classrooms. Enrollment dropped 10,000 in the past year, and now School Board members are discussing laying off employees, slashing overtime, replacing outside school police officers with district employees, and selling or leasing the K.C. Wright administrative headquarters to help deal with the financial problems.

The New Office Space

The district decided to find a new home for its facilities employees after it sold its Rock Island Annex Facility, a series of office buildings on Northwest 26th Street in Oakland Park, in October. The Urban League of Broward County, which bought the facility for $5.36 million, plans to develop affordable housing on the site. After reviewing several properties, the district chose the Handy building at 2101 N. Andrews Ave., in Wilton Manors, for its employees. Handy bought the 40-year-old building, which was the former headquarters of Moss & Associates construction, for $5.9 million in January 2025.

Details of the Rental Agreement

The district’s agreement with Handy allows the district to house facilities employees, as well as some district contractors, in 15,000 square feet of the 85,000 square feet building. The district will occupy all of the fourth floor and part of the second floor of the facility, according to the contract. The rent will start at $42,500 per month, or $510,000 the first year, and will increase by 1% for each of the five years, according to the contract.

Reactions from School Board Members

School Board Chairwoman Debbi Hixon said, "Looking at it right now, I would say financially it doesn’t seem like it makes a whole lot of sense based on the position we’re in." Board member Rebecca Thompson said, "This is definitely one of those contracts that we should revisit, and if there is space to house 75 employees in one of our schools, which I feel like we should easily be able to accommodate, that’s the direction we should go in." The contract allows the district to get out if there is damage or a breach by the landlord or if funds are not appropriated in the district budget.

Efforts to Utilize School Facilities

In recent weeks, the district has been looking for ways to utilize its facilities more efficiently. Board member Lori Alhadeff suggested renting out space in the K.C. Wright administrative headquarters to bring in revenue and fill the schools. Superintendent Vickie Cartwright said the district is emptying out the building and renting out vacant space to lawyers and other organizations. The district’s efforts to utilize its facilities are part of its initiative known as "Redefining Our Schools," which aims to improve the educational landscape and strengthen community partnerships.

Conclusion

The Broward School district’s decision to rent office space for $2.6 million over five years has raised questions about the district’s financial priorities. With plenty of room at underenrolled schools, some board members are having second thoughts about the decision. The district’s efforts to utilize its facilities more efficiently and reduce costs are ongoing, but it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to address the district’s financial challenges.

FAQs

• Q: How much will the district pay to rent the office space?
  A: The district will pay $2.6 million over five years, with the rent starting at $42,500 per month.
• Q: Why did the district decide to rent office space?
  A: The district decided to rent office space after selling its Rock Island Annex Facility and needing to find a new home for its facilities employees.
• Q: Are there any concerns about the decision?
  A: Yes, some board members are concerned that the district has plenty of room at underenrolled schools and that the rental agreement may not be the best use of district funds.
• Q: What is the district doing to utilize its facilities more efficiently?
  A: The district is emptying out the K.C. Wright administrative headquarters and renting out vacant space to lawyers and other organizations as part of its "Redefining Our Schools" initiative.