Speak out!

 

Track Storms

 

Gas Stations & Supermarkets with Generators

 

West Broward High info video

Get Answers from 'Ask the Governor'

Eco 92 a Video

Traffic Noise Evaluation

I-75 Project

Highway Traffic Noise In the United States

Petition for Funding for Soundwall

PDE Study Explanation

Photos of the PDE Meeting

Comment Sheet

 

Go to:Cypress Bay Relief Citizens United


 

NEWS AND ALERTS

Posted February 26, 2010

An extra watch was requested at 15640 Lancelot Ct due to a suspicious incident.  Resident awoke to strange sounds outside her bedroom window. Upon opening the blinds she was face to face with an unknown person dressed in all black.  She could not provide any further description. Make sure you keep your doors locked and your alarm on.


Posted October 29, 2009

It was just reported that the police have arrested three teenagers who have been going around the neighborhoods vandalizing the cars. Hopefully this will now cease from happening. But you should continue to lock your cars up in your driveways.


Posted September 18, 2009

A car was burglarized on Hawkes Bluff Ave. last night. Someone entered the car through an unlocked door. Make sure you keep all valuables out of site and your doors locked. Even if you have an empty gym bag the crooks don't know its empty and will break your window to get it. They go car to car pulling door handles most of the time. If you see any suspicious people walking around at night call 911, you don't even have to leave your name.


Posted May 29, 2009

Suspect In Double Shooting Found Dead

2 Women Gunned Down At Gas Station

Police said a man whose body was found Friday morning in Davie is the suspect in a double fatal shooting at a Plantation gas station.

According to the Plantation Police Department, the body of 30-year-old Robert J. Vaughan was found just after 3 a.m. Friday in the 5600 block of Hawks Bluff Avenue in Davie. Police said Vaughan died of a gunshot wound to the head.

Plantation police said Vaughan was the suspect in the fatal shootings of two women that happened about two hours before the discovery of his body.

According to Plantation police spokesman Robert Reddig, at about 1 a.m., the women drove into the Chevron station on Pine Island Road and Broward Boulevard. Then, the driver of another car following their green two-door got out and fired at them multiple times, police said.

After the shootings, the bullet-riddled car in which the two women were riding rolled into another vehicle owned by a couple who were buying gas. The couple did not want to comment to Local 10.

One of the women died at the scene. The second was rushed to Broward General Medical Center, where she later died.

Plantation police identified the victims as 27-year-old Jillian Hauck and 22-year-old Brooke Pazo, both of Plantation.

Plantation police said Hauck was Vaughan's ex-girlfriend, and she had gotten a restraining order against him in 2007, Local 10's Todd Tongen reported.

Hauck's family members were too grief stricken to talk about their loved one on Friday.

Police said they have surveillance video that shows the shootings at the gas station, but they have not released it.

Anyone with information is asked to call Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).


 

Posted January 28, 2009

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
 
Below please find an e-mail from a Hawkes Bluff Resident regarding a robbery in the neighborhood today.  Please be extra vigilant and watch out for yourselves and your fellow residents.  Please report anything that seems out of the ordinary.  Please call the Town of Davie Police Department at (954) 693-8200 if you see anything suspicious or call 911 for any emergencies.
 
There has also been a rash of identity thefts in the neighborhood recently.  Please make sure to pick-up your mail as soon as possible and to shred all documents that have critical information before putting them in the garbage.  You might also want to consider a credit monitoring service like Equifax to monitor your credit activities on a continuous basis.
 
If anybody has anything further to report regarding this incident or any other incidents in the neighborhood, please reply to this e-mail.
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Crime Watch Co-ordinator)
I wanted to let you know about an incident today on Huntridge road.

 

 
There was a robbery during the day at a residence just on the west side of the high power lines on Huntridge.
 
The homeowner had a dog in a room and the intruders simply avoided that room and robbed the rest of the home.
They took TV's, Laptops, Game Systems, Jewelry and more from the home.
 
I wanted to let you know asap as this occurred during the day today 1/28.
 

 

Posted January 9, 2009

There has been an alarming number of incidents of identity theft in our development. Here are some tips to safeguard your identity:

Online Brokerage Accounts: What You Can Do to Safeguard Your Money and Your Personal Information

Let's hope this never happens to you: You have a few free minutes so you decide to go online to check your brokerage account information.  Your account balance is much lower than you expect - and you know that, at least for today, neither the market nor any of your securities fell in value.  You see that there were several wire transfers of money from your account to an outside checking account.  But you never authorized those transactions - instead, an identity thief did, and that thief has now stolen your cash as well as your personal information.

Like many investors, you may enjoy some of the conveniences of an online brokerage account, like checking your brokerage account information at any time of day or night, buying and selling securities, or even transferring money between your brokerage account and another account. But if you don't take steps to protect your personal information when you go online, you could be telling your own story of identity theft.

How Online Identity Theft Can Happen

Many identity thieves use malicious software programs to attack vulnerable computers of online users. These software programs can monitor your computer activity and send information back to the thief's computer. Sometimes, these programs will log your key strokes, which allows identity thieves to easily obtain username and password information for any of your online accounts, including your brokerage account.

Other identity thieves "phish" for your personal information. "Phishing" involves the use of fraudulent emails and copy-cat websites to trick you into revealing valuable personal information - such as your account number, your social security number, and the username and password information you use when accessing your account. Sometimes fraudsters will use phishing scams to try to get you to download keystroke logging or other malicious software programs unsuspectingly.

But not all identity thieves have gone "high tech." Many still use less sophisticated ways of stealing your personal information, such as looking over your shoulder when you're typing sensitive information or searching through your trash for confidential account information.

How to Protect Yourself Online

You'll need to protect yourself against identity thieves, whether hackers, phishers, or snoops, when you use your online brokerage account. Here are a few suggestions on ways to keep your personal information and money more secure when you go online:

  • Beef Up Your Security. Personal firewalls and security software packages (with anti-virus, anti-spam, and spyware detection features) are a must-have for those who engage in online financial transactions. Make sure your computer has the latest security patches, and make sure that you access your online brokerage account only on a secure web page using encryption. The website address of a secure website connection starts with "https" instead of just "http" and has a key or closed padlock in the status bar (which typically appears in the lower right-hand corner of your screen).

Security Tip: Even if a web page starts with "https" and contains a key or closed padlock, it's still possible that it may not be secure. Some phishers, for example, make spoofed websites which appear to have padlocks. To double-check, click on the padlock icon on the status bar to see the security certificate for the site. Following the "Issued to" in the pop-up window you should see the name matching the site you think you're on. If the name differs, you are probably on a spoofed site.

  • Use a Security Token (if available). Using a security token can make it even harder for an identity thief to access your online brokerage account. That's because these small number-generating devices offer a second layer of security - a one-time pass-code that typically changes every 30 or 60 seconds. These unpredictable pass-codes can frustrate identity thieves. While fraudsters can use keystroke logging programs to obtain regular username and password information, they can't use these programs to obtain the security token pass-code. Ask your brokerage firm if you can protect your online account with a security token or similar security device.
     
  • Be Careful What You Download. When you download a program or file from an unknown source, you risk loading malicious software programs on your computer. Fraudsters often hide these programs within seemingly benign applications. Think twice before you click on a pop-up advertisement or download a "free" game or gadget.
     
  • Use Your Own Computer. It's generally safer to access your online brokerage account from your own computer than from other computers. If you use a computer other than your own, for example, you won't know if it contains viruses or spyware. If you do use another computer, be sure to delete all of the your "Temporary Internet Files" and clear all of your "History" after you log off your account.
     
  • Don't Respond to Emails Requesting Personal Information. Legitimate entities will not ask you to provide or verify sensitive information through a non-secure means, such as email. If you have reason to believe that your financial institution actually does need personal information from you, pick up the phone and call the company yourself - using the number in your rolodex, not the one the email provides!

Security Tip: Even though a web address in an email may look legitimate, fraudsters can mask the true destination. Rather than merely clicking on a link provided in an email, type the web address into your browser yourself (or use a bookmark you previously created).

  • Be Smart About Your Password. The best passwords are ones that are difficult to guess. Try using a password that consists of a combination of numbers, letters (both upper case and lower case), punctuation, and special characters. You should change your password regularly and use a different password for each of your accounts. Don't share your password with others and never reply to "phishing" emails with your password or other sensitive information. You also shouldn't store your password on your computer. If you need to write down your password, store it in a secure, private place.
     
  • Use Extra Caution with Wireless Connections. Wireless networks may not provide as much security as wired Internet connections. In fact, many "hotspots" - wireless networks in public areas like airports, hotels and restaurants - reduce their security so it's easier for individuals to access and use these wireless networks. Unless you use a security token, you may decide that accessing your online brokerage account through a wireless connection isn't worth the security risk. You can learn more about security issues relating to wireless networks on the website of the Wi-Fi Alliance.
     
  • Log Out Completely. Closing or minimizing your browser or typing in a new web address when you're done using your online account may not be enough to prevent others from gaining access to your account information. Instead, click on the "log out" button to terminate your online session. In addition, you shouldn't permit your browser to "remember" your username and password information. If this browser feature is active, anyone using your computer will have access to your brokerage account information.

How to Know if Your Identity Has Been Stolen

Sometimes, it can be extraordinarily difficult to determine whether someone has stolen your identity. If you take the steps below, you may be able to find out whether you've been victim of identity theft and protect yourself from further harm:

  • Read Your Statements. Don't toss aside your monthly account statements! Read them thoroughly as soon as they arrive to make sure that all transactions shown are ones that you actually made, and check to see whether all of the transactions that you thought you made appear as well. Be sure that your brokerage firm has current contact information for you, including your mailing address and email address. If you see a mistake on your statement or don't receive a statement, contact your brokerage firm immediately.
     
  • Monitor Your Credit Report. Reviewing your credit report may alert you to unauthorized activity, and, therefore, can be an effective way to fight identity theft. You can obtain a free credit report every 12 months from three different credit bureaus by contacting the Annual Credit Report Request Service

Investor Tip:  Read your brokerage account agreement carefully because many firms take the position that you are responsible for the security of your account information, such as your username, password, and account number.  In addition, your brokerage account agreement may provide information about what specific steps you should take if you notice any unauthorized account activity.

What to Do if You Run into Trouble 

Always act quickly when you come face to face with a potential fraud, especially if you've lost money or believe your identity has been stolen.

  • Identity Theft. If you think that your personal information has been stolen, visit the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Resource Center at www.consumer.gov/idtheft/index.html for information on how to file a complaint and control the damage. 
     
  • Securities Scams. Before you do business with any investment-related firm or individual, do your own independent research to check out their background and confirm whether they are legitimate. For step-by-step tips and links to helpful websites, please read Check Out Brokers and Advisers and SIPC Exposes Phony "Look-Alike" Web Site. Report investment-related scams to the SEC using our online Complaint Center
     
  • Phishy Emails. If a phishing scam rolls into your email box, be sure to tell the company right away. You can also report the scam to the FBI's Internet Fraud Complaint Center at www.IFCCFBI.gov. If the email purports to come from a brokerage firm or mutual fund company, be sure to pass along that tip to the SEC's Enforcement Division by forwarding the email to enforcement@sec.gov

Additional Resources 

For more information, please read: 

http://www.sec.gov/investor/pubs/onlinebrokerage.htm


 

Posted October 23, 2008

I received this letter today from FP&L regarding our power issues along with a lots of pertinent information to our power outages.  Below this letter are links to some of the brochures he sent me that I attached here. They sent me quite a few different brochures, I haven't put them all on but from time to time I'll put more on. -Val

See attached file: FPL Distribution System

See attached file: Electric Disturbances

See attached file: Right Tree Right Place and Tree Pruning

Posted October 17, 2008

After contacting the Public Service Commission regarding our constant 1 second power outages in our entire development, I received the following emails as well as phone calls from two different specialists at FP&L. I was told that several nurseries in our area are growing trees directly under the power lines that are touching the wires and causing our power to go out for a second here and there and FP&L is doing whatever they can to trim the trees down that are causing these problems as well as fixing anything else that needs to be fixed. He explained it in a pretty technical manner regarding the feeders and multiple feeders and drops in voltage at the substation and I took notes but I asked him to send me something that I can relay to you that will make more sense than my scribbled notes. When I receive more information I will post it here.  -Val

Mrs O'Connor,

Below is the information that I promised regarding the correct trees to plant to prevent outages. Also I will be sending you a brochure that contains Fpl's Top Tips for Power Disturbance Protection. If you should have any questions you can contact our customer service department or visit us on the web at www.FPL.com.


See attached file: Right Tree Right Place and Tree Pruning

Eliezer Cueto
Associate Technical Specialist
Power Systems
Florida Power & Light
4000 Davie Rd Ext
Hollywood, Fl 33024
 

Val,

Many things can cause the power to go out for more than a minute. If a transformer fuse or a lateral fuse blows this can cause a longer outage, the lines will have to be patrolled to find the cause of the outage, many times it can be caused by lightning, birds, animals, vegetation, poles being hit by vehicles, wires down etc. The breakers at the Substation are design to prevent the outage, kind of like when a specific breaker goes off at the house for whatever reason, and all you have to do is reset it. Well at the substation level the breakers go thru time intervals to allow the cause of the outage on the lines to clear, if it clears then it re-closes and you have a momentary for a couple of seconds, if problem persists on the lines the breaker will open a few more times within about a minute to clear the fault, if that doesn't happen then it will stay open and it will be physically inspected. This is just a little piece of the process that it is followed to prevent outages many other things are looked at also. I hope this helps.

Eliezer Cueto
Associate Technical Specialist
Power Systems
Florida Power & Light
 


Posted October 17, 2008

I attended the I-75 PD&E Study - Broward MPO Presentation On October 14th and met the new project manager, Joshua Salazar and got a chance to talk to several of the FDOT workers present at the workshop. To see some of the photos I took at the workshop click PHOTOS.  All these photos and more are on FDOT's website www.I-75Vision.com. To see the updates of the I-75 Project Development and Environment Study see UPDATES. -Val O'Connor

First Posted September 16, 2008

We appreciate your continued participation in the I-75 PD&E Study - Broward MPO Presentation and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Public Workshop, scheduled for October 14th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Broward County SW Regional Library.  Additional details on the meeting can be found on our project website:  www.I-75Vision.com

Thanks again and feel free to call me or FDOT's Project Manager (Mr. Joshua Salazar, 954-777-4635) with any question on this Study or the upcoming workshop.

 Will Suero, PE, VP
Senior Project Manager


 

Posted October 3, 2008

Ivanhoe residence:

I do not know how many of you are experiencing the constant power outages on a daily basis? Today, was another last straw for me, I called FP&L, again to lodge the complaint and was advised that they have had no complaints from Ivanhoe-Hawkes Bluff or any other community in Ivanhoe.

That is very hard for me to believe, since, I know I’ve placed many calls into customer services to advise FP&L of the continual daily outages. However, they claim not to have any history of past call ins. Regretfully, I did not document my calls.

I have spoken to a few neighbors who have had to replace appliances due to numerous surges and outages, and were thinking they could put a claim in with FP&L. In speaking with FP&L, if you lose a major appliance, and you have not reports these outages they will not be able to reimburse you or contribute a portion for the replacement appliance. Only if you have history in your customer records and at that point they would have to submit it for review of their executive committee.

The representative had stated they will do an investigation, and will be in touch with us, however, from the calls I made in the past I never received a follow-up from FP&L.

The number to report outages or intermittent outages, brown outs, etc, is 1-800-226-3545. If you are experience the same as us, it would be in your best interest to call in and report the problem.

Please feel free to pass this message on to other neighbors of Ivanhoe.

Thank you.

Diane Marotta-Eccles

Email: dmeccles@bellsouth.net

Posted October 1, 2008

I am aware of two cases of identity theft that was perpetrated on residents of Waverly Hundred, both on Hawkes Bluff Ave. Today I went with one of the couples to the Davie police station to report the crime and to get a police case number to be able to fill out the bank forms. I am attaching the information that the police officer gave to them which are instructions of what to do if it happens to you. If this happened several times in our community it has to be someone going through the mailboxes or garbage. I told them to get a paper shredder to shred their documents. This couple are not on a computer so it has to be something that was on the outside of their home like garbage or mail. Be careful, don't put mail out the night before and try to shred your documents that have any pertinent information of them before putting them into the garbage.  Click here to read the instructions from the police: Identity Theft  -Val O'Connor, Secretary and Webmaster of Waverly Hundred


Posted October 1, 2008

To bring you up to date on the case of the peeping tom in our neighborhood: 

My heart goes out to my husband who from day one has said that he was going to stick with this and make sure that justice would be served.  And he did. When most people would give up and just say the system doesn’t work – he fought through it – He would call the State attorney and just stayed with it; voiced his feelings on what he wanted and what would be best for his family – This man Giovanni Franceso Pugliese invaded our privacy and not only ours but our neighbors as well – something we didn’t ask for and put our family through some tough times – The emotions of  our kids, the questions they would ask and most of all the fear that they have. However, we did get what we set out for.  He is now in jail –

Giovanni Francesco Pugliese is now at the stockade facility.  He was charged with voyeurism (6 months in jail for this count) and for the battery charge (2 counts – one year probation for each count)  I want everyone to know that even when his projection sentence ends (3/14/09) he is not permitted in our neighborhood. If he is seen here that is a violation of his probation and if he is seen, people should call the police department and give as much information as possible.    

You can view his arrest record at www.browardsherriff.com  - then on the right side of the screen type in his name.  This will bring up his arrest record and picture. 

We want to thank everyone for their thoughts, support and prayers during this difficult time. -a resident of Waverly Hundred


 


Posted September 16, 2008

We appreciate your continued participation in the I-75 PD&E Study - Broward MPO Presentation and look forward to seeing you at our upcoming Public Workshop, scheduled for October 14th from 5:30pm to 7:30pm at the Broward County SW Regional Library.  Additional details on the meeting can be found on our project website:  www.I-75Vision.com

Thanks again and feel free to call me or FDOT's Project Manager (Mr. Joshua Salazar, 954-777-4635) with any question on this Study or the upcoming workshop.

 Will Suero, PE, VP
Senior Project Manager


 

Posted August 28, 2008

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
 
Many of you might have noticed increased mosquito activity in your neighborhood.  I know I certainly have.  It was brought to my attention by Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Board Members Terry Coulton & Mo Christie at our HOA meeting last night that Broward County no longer automatically spays for mosquitos.  You have to request mosquito service from them.  The way to request this service is to go to their website at www.Broward.org and go to "Request Mosquito Service" on the right hand side under "Top Online Services".  It's very easy to request this service for your residence.  You can also call Mosquito Control at (954) 765-4062 or fax them at (954) 985-1959 to request this service.  The more of us that request this service, the less mosquitos we will have to deal with in our neighborhood.  So please call, fax, or e-mail today.  click here to go directly to the page : Request Mosquito Service
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Treasurer and Crime Watch Co-Ordinator)

Posted August 27, 2008

Friends and Neighbors,

Our Ivanhoe and surrounding area cast 567 votes, we gave Beverly Gallagher 392 of these votes (nearly 70%!!!!) and we represented over 11% of her winning margin of 1,905 votes in only FOUR voting precincts. This included a very good early voting and absentee voting! We sent quite a message, which is…. don’t mess with Ivanhoe!

If you don’t already know, Beverly Ann Gallagher is our newly re-elected School Board Member. I am sure she would love to hear from each of you who supported her.

Do not let anyone tell you that Ivanhoe does not vote!  This was a very low turnout election and we did great job. There are too many individual people to recognize, but you all know exactly who you are.

This was a very, very ugly race filled with a load of negative campaigning, but we always kept it professional and prevailed. We also have to thank the Hawkes Bluff E-mail guru Bob Giordano, Val O’Connor for the Ivanhoe Civic Association website and Ken Cimetta from Keep us Rural website for spreading the good word.

Reminder…

The FIRST WEST BROWARD HIGH Parent/ Teacher Student MEETING (PTSA) is TOMORROW NIGHT ….THURSDAY at 7pm (Media Center) !!!!!!!!

Please go to the West Broward High website to see the new information:

 http://www.westbrowardhigh.com or contact the PTSA at …. West Broward HS PTSA [westbrowardhsptsa@gmail.com]

Just please take the time to show up and see what a great program and school we will make the best in the county!

We all have busy schedules, but what is more important than your child’s education?

Go Bobcats!

John Pickett

Hawkes Bluff


 

Posted August 23, 2008

Friends and Neighbors,

We have a wonderful new High School in West Broward High, we have an A rated Hawkes Bluff Elementary and attend a great “A” middle school in Silver Trail. I believe we have Beverly Gallagher to thank as our incumbent representative for keeping the quality of education for our students. We have found ourselves with a credible, honest, effective and dedicated school board member and we need to re-elect her, so she can continue her work on our behalf. Please call her with questions or concerns at 954-829-6621.

We need to remember to vote NEXT TUESDAY August 26th and vote FOR Bev Gallagher, District 2 School Board.

Countywide, I believe we need to choose Dee Schroeder, who will listen to our needs and who is honest.

John Pickett

Hawkes Bluff

 


Posted August 16, 2008

Troubles are history, future an open book at new West Broward High School

New high school to open on edge of the Everglades

PEMBROKE PINES - For several months last spring, no one wanted to go to West Broward High School.

Parents passionately argued that their children should remain at Cypress Bay High School in Weston because West Broward, off U.S. 27, was too far away. Students begged to stay at Cypress Bay, saying they wanted to stay with their friends and stick with its sports teams and extracurricular activities.

But the tense, hours-long boundary discussions are history. West Broward High is ready to open its doors to 1,900 students for the first time Monday.

New principal Dan Traeger is ready to bring together students from Cypress Bay and Everglades high schools to create a new community at the school.

continued troubles are history

 

Posted July 10, 2008

As a follow up to the incident that happened in Waverly Hundred in February as well as other areas of Ivanhoe, regarding the guy who was caught hiding in the bushes beneath windows of houses, the upcoming court appearance is currently scheduled from July 21 thru July 25 in room 347 at 8:30 a.m.  The exact date to appear is not confirmed yet but will be on the website when it is known.  If anyone wants to come out to the courthouse and show their support it would be greatly appreciated. This guy needs to be put away and not be allowed to drive around our neighborhoods and pose a threat to our children. Will keep you posted as to the exact date of the hearing. The following are the original posts to remind you of the incidents:

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

When showing his picture one of the neighbors has recognized this man. He is posing as a window washer in the neighborhood.  He is persistent in wanting to perform this service. You might want to post the description of his car to be on the look out in case anyone sees this person in the neighborhood again. He currently drives a newer model Hyundai Sonata  Limited-  Dark Blue - 4 door - Tag number:  X60  9R0.
 
Several people have seen him in the area - so I think everyone needs to have their guard up!!


 

Posted June 6, 2008

Dear friends & neighbors.

This last Wednesday, supposedly, the “Staff” at the Town of Davie put an ordinance on the Town Council agenda:

increasing the distance for adult establishments to 1000 feet vs the current ordinance of 450 feet…..

from certain areas, like school, daycares, churches, etc… What this ordinance would do is increase certain locations within Davie. One of those areas would add a piece of Regency Square (Publix/Outback/) shopping center as a POSSIBLE future location for an adult establishment. Obviously, we do not believe an adult establishment is appropriate for this shopping center.

At The Last Minute, in the afternoon of the meeting date, this ordinance motion was WITHDRAWN, so a vote was NOT made on it.

Why was this added to the Davie agenda in the first place? There is a Federal lawsuit with Eden Club (on University Drive in Davie) vs. Town of Davie being heard this month asking for additional opportunities for these establishments to have more opportunities to start a business. The current 450 foot rule effectively stops establishments of adult businesses in most areas of Davie.  

Nobody seems to want to take responsibility on who wanted this on the agenda at the Town or how it was placed on the docket. All we know is there was less than full and timely disclosure and a load of people (Forest Ridge, Ivanhoe) were put into an uproar over something this important to our community.

This is typical for our town, not knowing “who’s is on first”…etc… To complicate matters, Mr. Marlon Luis, our council representative for the Town was out of town on vacation.   Anyway, THIS IS A WAKE UP CALL FOR OUR AREA!  If we are NOT aware of what is going on it is our own fault. Do NOT think you will be informed of such dealings by the Town. This seems like someone in the Davie Staff wanted to slip this by us. I do not think this was ill intentioned, it was just not disclosed to the Public very well.

Keep cards and letters and e-mails going to the Town and let the TOWN know how you feel. By writing our Town Council and Town Administrator, at least they know our opinions.

If you have ANY problem, the people in the CC area (above) are who we need to contact. The Town also has a website for input, which is accessed easily and a link is on all our HOA’s websites.

John Pickett

Ivanhoe Civic Association


Posted June 4, 2008

 

pic/logo

 

 

You're Invited to Join us
 

Endorsed by: 

Broward Teachers Union, Education, Technical Support and Charter Schools

AFL-CIO, Police Benevolent Association, Broward Principals and Assistant Principals, 

Broward Community College, Broward Para-Professionals Association, BTU-Retire Chapter

as we kick-off

Beverly "Bev " Gallagher's

Campaign for Re-Election

to the Broward County School Board
District 2


Monday, June 9, 2008
From 5:30 pm- 7:30 pm
At the Grand Palms Country Club
110 Grand Palms Dr., Pembroke Pines, FL 33027

Refreshments, entertainment and lots of fun for
the entire family!  Bring the kids!

Please RSVP by June 6 to 954-435-5918
or BevAGallagher@aol.com

For more information on Bev Gallagher,
Please visit her website www.beverlygallagher.com!

Directions:
Take I-75 South towards Miami
Merge onto West Pines Boulevard via Exit 9 B
Turn Left onto Grand Palms Drive/ SW 150th Ave
Make your first Right to end at 110 Grand Palms Dr

 


Posted May 31, 2008

Dear friends,

I am thinking about speaking at the Town Council meeting during the OPEN Forum next week, being the first council meeting of the month. Residents will have three minutes to express opinions and I intend to inform them of the outcome of the high school boundary issue and the apparent and probable elimination of the MMM construction project. Davie opposed any consideration to build MMM in Davie and did NOT feel compelled (until the very last second) to support our area (Ivanhoe/south of Griffin) to help us in this boundary concern. As a county we will certainly have more MEGA schools, with more additions vs. any new schools to address overcrowding. Many believe the school board is no longer in the business of building any new schools after this last round of workshops and boundary decisions. We will have to drive much, much farther to our designated school, West Broward High but we as a community have embraced the school as evidenced by the majority of participation in the PT(S)A and SAF coming from Ivanhoe and Southwest Ranches.

As a FACT, Marlon Luis, who represents us here in Ivanhoe has endorsed Beverly Gallagher, who as our district member was the ONLY School Board member fighting for our needs here in Ivanhoe. Other Davie elected officials, who do not represent us, are non-committal or are siding with Bev’s opponent, who has not been representing our needs.

Many of us living here or having businesses in Ivanhoe have the overall feeling that Davie (as a town council and government body) does not participate or have much of an interest in assisting our area, unless they feel it can politically help them out or somebody complains about something. They seem to be reactive, not proactive. I heard last week a resident state that we are “step-children of Davie, not real residents”. One council member has referred to us as “non-horse residents”. I wonder what they call Imagination Farms, Long Lake Estates and Shenandoah? The fact is we out here have a HUGE commercial base of tax money that supports the entire town and we need more attention as citizens. Unless we speak up, we will continue to be ignored.  As many say, no participation means there are no problems or needs.

Here are a list of issues that many residents feel need attention and participation from our Davie elected officials. We need a few more Ivanhoe residents to participate in this opportunity to speak on issues they feel need to be “pointed out” to the council. My three minutes will be used up by the education issue unless we can get a member of the PTSA to speak at the meeting...

Þ      I-75 wall issue (funding or assistance to get a better wall built, maybe extension of the existing wood fence)

Þ      Participation of possible construction of multi-use path over I-75 on Stirling, between 148th and Dykes Road. Where are the plans? Meetings?

Þ      NO indoor gym or youth sports programs on the west side, we have outside facilities: tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball and racquetball at Waverly 100 and Waterford – do we want to look into having built an indoor gym or better indoor facility at Waverly Park where there is room? Many of us feel the outside facilities are underused, because of the heat issues and an inside gym facility would be better utilized. Where do our kids go to participate in sports? Weston or Pembroke Pines?

Þ      Roads have not been recoated or repaved since inception of the community and many sidewalks are cracked and broken.

Þ      Greenway areas are in poor shape and are mostly weeds, just mowed occasionally with no irrigation. Because of our communities “manicured look” should we have upgraded landscaping and better maintained in the medians? (Stirling Road / around parks)

Þ      Police presence – Most of the HOA’s PAY separately for extra detail patrols and a question is why do other areas get better coverage from our Police Department? We have had too many break-ins and crime

Þ      Other issues:?????

Please keep communicating our needs to Davie, as these are all important issues and you all know the adage; the squeaky wheel…..

John Pickett

Hawkes Bluff

(Ivanhoe Civic Association)


Posted May 31, 2008

Plan scrapped for new high school in SW Broward

Superintendent says prices for Davie and Weston sites too steep to consider

FORT LAUDERDALE - A new high school for southwest Broward County set to be approved this year has been delayed, with School Board members Tuesday backing Superintendent James Notter's recommendation to shelve the campus.

Prices were too high for sites in Weston and Davie for the school dubbed MMM, Notter told the board. With enrollment down and economic times uncertain, board members opted to follow Notter's recommendation and perform a study of empty seats in the district rather than buy land for the new school.

Board Chairwoman Robin Bartleman took it one step further: If the district is going to examine whether MMM still is needed to relieve crowding at nearby Cypress Bay High School, she wants the district also to look at construction plans for new schools or classroom additions throughout the county.

"What's good for one is good for all," Bartleman said. "If we're going to do this with MMM, then everything else in the capital plan needs to be looked at. ... If we're really talking about doing this, then you do it across the board."

Tuesday's workshop discussion was the latest in more than two years of debate over where to put a school in southwest Broward. The district has spent more than $450,000 in analysis, appraisals, studies and consultant costs during its search for a new site.

Weston parent Byron Jaffe was upset by the board's decision to further delay a decision on MMM. "Are they saying they're out of the business of building new schools out in west Broward?" Jaffe said after the workshop.

Each board member spoke at Tuesday's workshop and generally agreed with Notter.

What was clear: The board wasn't willing to pay the asking prices for the parcels. Land developer Ron Bergeron wants $19.8 million for his 30-acre site in Weston, 108 percent more than the average appraisal value of $9.5 million. Brothers Daniel, Troy and Wayne Weekley want $13 million for their roughly 30 acres in Davie, nearly 73 percent more than the average appraised value of $7.6 million.

Some board members said the downturn in the real estate market could open up other possibilities for a school site.


"I think we can look," board member Beverly Gallagher said. "Every day someone's calling us about a different piece of property."

Attorney Alex Heckler, who represents the owners of the Bonaventure golf course once considered as a possible location for MMM, said Tuesday his clients are working on a new proposal to submit to the School Board. The golf course site was dropped because of concerns over arsenic in the soil and title questions.

Other board members said the district should use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate all its school boundaries.

"I can't tell you how many years we have talked about a comprehensive boundary review. ... We need to stop talking about that and simply do it," board member Stephanie Kraft said.

The district needs to go look from south to north, at every school, Kraft said.

"We went through a horrendous boundary process this year and no one wants to repeat it, but we have to repeat it," said Kraft, referring to the fight over which students should leave Cypress Bay to attend West Broward High School in Pembroke Pines.

As part of Tuesday's discussion, the board agreed to keep through the 2008-09 school year an enrollment cap at Cypress Bay, among the most populated in the country. Even with the boundary changes the board approved, Cypress Bay still will be crowded by more than 700 students at the start of the next school year.

Not building a new school would be a very bad decision, Jaffe said.

"Let me be clear, west Broward is going to have more [boundary changes] if you don't have a new school," Jaffe said. "And you think last time was bad?"

Board member Phyllis Hope urged that the search for a new school site continue.

"Please, please, please let the door stay open, possibly for us to look at some of these new properties that have come in, or at least re-evaluate the Bonaventure property," Hope said. "I do want us to keep in mind that there are other possible sites that we should look at before we should close the door."

 


 

Posted May 23, 2008

Needed by Tuesday 5/27, in the early AM at the latest!

Please read the following article. The newspaper article shows there are only 700 kids over for this new school…??? !!! )

These articles justify 100% our requests for NO boundary changes until we knew what was happening with MMM. We are settled in West Broward High and we should be grateful. This issue is certain to bring the true colors out of the Weston folks.

I have to agree with Mr. Notter that how can they justify $120 million for a small school when they moved so many students in the last recent boundary change? ANOTHER “private” high school in Weston? There are 700 seats open at Plantation alone. 10,000 for the whole county.

If you are so compelled to write and or let the powers to be know how you feel, please do so to the following e-mails or call the school board. supt_notter@browardschools.com      schoolboard@browardschools.com  

To Mr. Notter, thank him for a wise and prudent recommendation. To the Board write your opposition to the MMM funding.

Also, Please do NOT forget to participate in the school by joining the West Broward PSAT ( PTA ). Dues are only $5 for students and $10 for parents and business partners. - John

 

Superintendent: Hold off on high school in west Broward

Plans for a new high school in western Broward suffered a setback Tuesday, with Broward Schools Superintendent James Notter recommending the School Board reject offers to buy land and, instead, wait to see whether the school is still needed.

With asking prices significantly higher than the appraised value for the sites in Davie and Weston, Notter recommends the board hold off buying land for the proposed high school, temporarily dubbed MMM.

Land developer Ron Bergeron wants $19.8 million for his 30-acre site in Weston, double the average appraisal value of $9.5 million. And the asking price of $13 million for the roughly 30 acres in Davie — owned by brothers Daniel, Troy and Wayne Weekley — is nearly 73 percent more than its average appraised value of $7.6 million.

Notter isn't asking the board to take MMM out of the district's construction plans. Rather, he recommends the district look at which schools have empty seats, do a comprehensive analysis of the district's school boundaries, continue capping enrollment through the 2008-2009 school year at overcrowded Cypress Bay High School, and determine whether the district will have the money or the student-enrollment growth to build a new school.

High asking prices for land, budget cuts and declining enrollment all factored into the recommendation, Notter said. Also, the district has thousands of empty desks, and is awaiting the results of a survey showing which schools have space.

"A year ago, the numbers looked like they would justify a brand new school," Notter said. "Now I question those numbers."

Board members will discuss the proposed high school at a workshop next Tuesday at the district's headquarters in downtown Fort Lauderdale.

Should Board members adopt Notter's recommendation next week, the move will likely upset legions of Weston parents and city leaders. They have counted on a new high school to relieve Cypress Bay, waiting more than a year for the School Board to decide where to build MMM.

But Notter said the board has a "high concern for really spending taxpayers' dollars the right way."

The district took a $250 million hit to its construction plans because of legislators' decision to move property tax money from school districts' capital budgets to operating budgets, Notter said. The money would have gone for construction and replacing equipment such as computers and school buses.

Still, Weston resident Stuart Slutsky said he thinks the School Board had no intention of ever building the school.

"I think the School Board has been acting in bad faith and this was their expected end result," Slutsky said. "It's a game they play with the public, wasting time and money."

Weston Mayor Eric Hersh said he didn't think the asking price for the Bergeron site — which works out to more than $655,000 an acre — was out of bounds.

"That's what it goes for here," Hersh said. "Ultimately, if the board doesn't take advantage of the market we're in now and buy the land, they'll never be able to afford it in the future."

If the school is not built, "I think it would be a big disappointment for this community," Hersh said.

School Board member Beverly Gallagher said she thinks the asking prices for the Weekley and Bergeron sites were too high, and the flagging real estate market could open up potential sites for the school.

And if there are empty desks in the district, Gallagher said, it may make more sense to fill them by moving school attendance boundaries.

"The empty seats and the budget cuts we have to face, I think we have to be more careful with our dollars," she said.

Kathy Bushouse can be reached at kbushouse@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4556.


 

Posted May 20, 2008

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,

 
Below please find an e-mail I received from a Falcon's Lea Resident.  Apparently there were (2) break-ins last Friday in Falcon's Lea.  It happened during the time most home burglaries occur (between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 pm) when the kids are at school and many people are at work.  These guys are slick and fast.  Please reply to this e-mail if you have any additional information regarding these burglaries.  Please call the Town of Davie Police Department at (954) 693-8200 if you have any pertinent information.  Let's be extra vigilant and keep on the lookout for this vehicle & possible suspects and for anything suspicious.  Please do not hesitate to contact the Police Department (911 for emergencies) if you see anything. 
 
Robert Giordano - Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Crime Watch Co-ordinator
 

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 22, 2008
Last Monday our house was also broken into.   We live in Waverly Hundred,  on the corner of Olde Moat Way.  They broke the glass, but when the alarm went off they left.  They did not take anything.  We called the police and they dusted for fingerprints.  The police say they are professionals.  The glass was cut with a glass cutter and taken off.  We informed our neighbors so that they can be on the alert.  This happened at 11:05 in the morning.  No one saw anything.
 

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 136th 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 136th 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 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

Neighbors,

At last night's CEHOA meeting Deputy Roselli gave the crime report and asked people to be aware of a recent model black pick-up truck (2000-2008), make unknown, with 'specialty rims' that is suspected of being involved in two recent (April) burglaries in the area, and to call BSO if you see it or have any additional information. The non-emergency number is (954) 765-4321, (and as always call only, never approach when observing anything suspicious). --Lesley

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

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

Posted April 17, 2008

The boundary changes are to relieve "critically overcrowded" Cypress Bay High School (pictured) and to fill new West Broward High School. (Staff photo/Lou Toman)

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.


Posted April 14, 2008

Dear friends of Ivanhoe (Hawkes Bluff Elementary) children,

This Wednesday, April 16th will possibly be the last chance to speak for or against the proposed Cypress Bay boundary changes. 5:30 at Plantation High.

There are differing opinions on this subject, however most opinions I have heard lean to allowing the existing students to serve out their high school careers at Cypress Bay, then start this change with the new high school for the incoming freshmen. This amendment has been floated by school board members this week. Read the blog at sunsentinel.com and there are some interesting opinions.

As you know some of us (are diehard’s) disagree, and feel the school board should not perform any boundary changes until MMM is determined to either be built or not built. These are serious times, both financially and politically and this boundary and MMM vote affects many, many children and families.  There is so much wasted money in this process. Just in transportation today at over $3.35 per gallon of gas, we need to watch this process carefully.

Many believe, with justification, this process has been basically high-jacked from the inception by the staff in the boundary department with much influence from those few Weston residents with the goal to maintain a “Weston Only” city high school. There is no other logical, financial or “overcrowding” reasoning, at least until the “MMM” site is decided upon. There WILL be many changes again next year and we (as Ivanhoe) do NOT desire to be placed in this position just four short years down the road. Now we hear through the Sun Sentinel article this weekend, a report to lower the MMM capacity from 2000 students to 1700, which would effectively give them TWO Weston City schools, if the Bergeron property is chosen. The process can keep our community out and attempt to bring back the Bonaventure children. This is a tough battle for our little community, since basically every SW Broward political candidate, elected official and school board member in Broward County has some stake (?) in this decision. Weston officials and residents have proved more interested and politically savvy in this process than Davie, however, we still think there are ”things” going on, none of us are aware of at this point. They truly believe Cypress Bay High should be a Weston School vs. a county school.

We know Cypress Bay is in need of restrooms and possibly a cafeteria upgrade, but that is a whole lot cheaper than building a new school. We are however in a great position, being West Broward IS a new school albeit so, so incredibly far from our neighborhood.

Attend this Meeting Wednesday at 5:30pm at Plantation High. If you wish to speak or see our school boards “political machine” in action.

click here for: Past related Newspaper Articles


Posted April 13, 2008

Local Roads Master Plan Workshop
Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 6:30 PM
 
Final Draft to be Presented

The Town of Davie will host the third and final workshop for the Local Road Master Plan on April 24, 2008, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. The meeting will be held at the Davie Police Department Community Room located at 1230 South Nob Hill Road.

The Local Road Master Plan project was initiated by the Town of Davie to address the transportation concerns raised by its citizens. The
Town's Planning & Zoning and Engineering Divisions along with the transportation engineering firm Kittelson & Associates, Inc. are working together with the citizens of Davie to create a plan that will identify, analyze, and make recommendations to improve local roadways. A final draft will be presented at the meeting.

Members of the Town Council may be present.

For additional information, please contact the Town of Davie Planning and Zoning Division at 954-797-1103.


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."

| 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

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

This morning at about 2:15am, the Broward School Board voted 8 -1 (with Beverly Gallagher dissenting) to send the students currently attending Cypress Bay High, those south of Griffin Road to West Broward High School. There is a final vote on April 16th. Generally, once this first vote occurs, it is simply and normally ratified at the second pubic hearing. We all should intend to continue the fight to “phase-in” this move for at least the existing students, however, that does not appear to have support. Literally hundreds of people attended and many spoke. The Sun-Sentinel has an article of the meeting in the local section as does the Herald.

We have hundred of families and students affected here in Ivanhoe and thousands across Southwest Ranches, Pembroke Pines and the Old Bonaventure section of Weston.

We are certain that this decision does NOT relieve the Cypress Bay Main Campus to any significant amount. Their own numbers and data confirm this fact. We were simply beat politically because this vote finally “cleansed” Cypress Bay from the surrounding cities and has given Weston a city school paid for the taxpayers of Broward County. This has been a few parents goal for several years and this year they finally had enough political clout to over-ride logic. .

In any case we all need to send a clear message to the school board and the media that: “WE WILL NOT BE MOVED AGAIN!!!”. Most believe MMM will never be built and all the surrounding high schools must be super-sized if that is the case. We also need to support financially and in our votes FOR our School Board Member, Beverly Gallagher in the next election. We need to vote against Robin Bartleman and Jennifer Gottlieb, who are supposed to represent the entire county, but chose to support only Weston constituents.

We KNOW that our Town Council in Davie, did NOT support our efforts. Although our district council person, Marlin Luis made an attempt in the early stages of this process, he also did not attend this very important boundary meeting to speak in support of our positions. Even more disturbing, neither did Mr. Truex, our Mayor or Ms. Starkey, Mr Crowley or Mr. Caletka.  If any of them were in the room, we did not see them.

We applaud the City of Cooper City and Town of Southwest Ranches for not only attending the meeting, but these two cities entire councils were there. Mayor Fink and all commissioners spoke for Southwest Ranches and Debbie Essinger of Cooper City with several of her council stood and asked for support. If our Davie Town council felt we were important enough to at least place the date in their calendars to show up, it would be a different story and we would at least feel like our Town cared about Ivanhoe.

In addition, there were many factions fighting basically for the same goal, however politically we decided to voice our positions separately. We in Ivanhoe were cohesive and had five volunteers who were on a “committee” and each had several supporters and we all need to thank them for coming out and helping. Our e-mail communications did help as well. This is also the core of the Ivanhoe Civic Association. In the end the competition and the school board did not and do not respect our collective communities as people who can hurt them in the polls.

Weston residents were organized, their city commissioners showed up at EVERY meeting. They had letters from ALL of their homeowners associations in support and were collectively on the same page with the exception of the area in NW Bonaventure who were also moved in this boundary change.

ON A POSITVE NOTE, our children will attend a wonderful, new, shiny state of art high school. The principal and staff are certain to be professional and caring. Yes, it is farther away, however we have the opportunity to make a sincere impact on it’s student parent boards and have serious input in the spirit of the school. I know many of you have children who will have to re-establish their high school careers & lives at the new school, please guide your children with grace and good intentions as I know we will.

This is a challenge, but we can all make this a positive experience vs. a negative one.

 


Posted March 10, 2008

I have been speaking with Kristi Krueger of Channel 10 news about the Cypress Bay boundary situation.  She is trying to get a news crew out to the School Board Public Hearings to cover the story (and hopefully put pressure on the School Board to do the logical thing).  I think it would help if Southwest Ranches residents would bombard her with e-mails so the station would see how volatile and emotional the situation is.  Please e-mail Kristi with your story, complaint, opinion at kkrueger@wplg.com.  Forward this to all of your Southwest Ranches friends so we can hit her with as many e-mails as possible.
Judy Harden
954-434-6507

 

Posted March 9, 2008

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

By now you know about this public hearing as all residents’/ students did receive a phone message at the house. It is the first vote to send the students south of Griffin to “West Broward” or LLL. There will be addendum’s to send eastern SW Ranches to Cooper City High. We are still slated by the 4.1(s) scenario to West Broward. We want an addendum asking for a phase-in or no boundary changes this year, with the exception of those areas wishing to attend West Broward High. There will be a “vote” on this item. The last meeting will be in April and that will be the final vote.

Facts: Class size amendment will be loosened for two years. MMM is not decided on yet.  Moving our students does not relieve Cypress Bay this year. There is no really good reason to enact boundary changes this year.  However, we see nothing to on the horizon to change the minds of this particular School Board. We believe there is, at an outside chance, to have a phase in. This is to move all incoming freshman to West Broward (and Western), however, allow the current Freshmen and Sophomores the chance to stay through their high school experience, for the next three years, unless the student/parents wish to attend West Broward. This is sort of like choice, or a very liberal reassignment.

This boundary change will legally allow Weston Residents to close their borders. This Map 4.1(s) effectively allows only Weston residents to attend Cypress Bay High. The burden to pay for the school is borne by everyone who pays taxes, however only Weston residents will be able to attend the Bay. On the good side, West Broward WILL be a great school.

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 13th, (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 16th 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 16th 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

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

 Commence at the intersection Pembroke Road and Hiatus Road, south along Hiatus Road to Red Road, south along Red Road to the Broward/Miami-Dade County Line, west along the Broward/Miami-Dade County Line to the Florida Turnpike Extension, northeast along the Florida Turnpike Extension to Flamingo Road/SW 124 Avenue, north along Flamingo Road/SW 124 Avenue to Miramar Parkway, west along Miramar Parkway to SW 148 Avenue extended, north along SW 148 Avenue extended to Interstate 75, northeast along Interstate 75 to Pembroke Road extended, east along Pembroke Road extended to Hiatus Road.

 Tentative Financial Impact Information

Budget
Relocatables
Safety
Transportation

Appendices

2007- 08 District-Wide Maps by Level
Feeder Patterns
School Board Policies - 5000, 5001, 5003, 5004
 


Posted February 24, 2008

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,

 
We had an incident right here in Hawkes Bluff where board member Terry Coulton had to call the Town of Davie Police Department because someone was in her yard peeking around her windows.  This happened a couple of weeks ago and the police were on the scene immediately.  Perhaps this is the same person who was caught in Waverly Hundred.  Terry's dog was going crazy and she let him out and chased the person out of her yard (over the fence).  Please be extra vigilant and watch out for each other.  Please call the Town of Davie Police Department at 911 (Emergency) or 954-693-8200 (Non-Emergency) if you see anyone suspicious hanging around or if you see anything that seems out of the ordinary.  Also, pay attention to your cats & dogs.  They seem to have that "radar" that knows when something is wrong.  If anyone has any additional information regarding these events, please e-mail me and I will distribute.
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano    E-mail: rgiordan@bellsouth.net

 

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

While on COP patrol tonight I discovered that there is a group of "parolees" living in the woods near the corner of Griffin and US27.  After researching this situation, I found out that the Department of Corrections has set these men up to live on this land.  The land is owned by the South Florida Water Management District.  Our Southwest Ranches BSO is trying to evict them from this area, but they need the cooperation of the SFWMD to accomplish this.  I'm not sure why they were placed there in the first place, but I believe that it is unacceptable for them to be there. 

If you could take a few minutes to call or email our state representative and ask him to explain why those parolees were "dumped" on us, and ask him how soon he can get them out of there. 

Let's all do our part on keeping crime out of our town.

Our Florida State Representative:

Martin Kiar

954 346-2813

800 487-1588


 

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 26th 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 26th 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

Dear Neighbors, This is correspondence sent recently by Beverly Gallagher to
our area.
 
Most of the people we have heard from generally approve of this plan,
especially when faced with the available alternate Maps, which move us all
SOUTH of Griffin Road to West Broward High (LLL).  You might have individual
and personal concerns and while we believe NO Change is needed for this
year, please respond to the entire school board with your thoughts through
the website www.browardschools.com. By e-mail or by PHONE.
 
Use thoughtful and polite statements with the logic we have used during this
entire process:
 
The scenario should....
 
Time, distance, logic.
Affect the fewest possible children
MMM needs to be built
Class size requirements are being loosened.
Do not have an exclusive city school, while excluding students who are
closer.
Politics should take a back seat to what is best for the students
Our area has suffered through enough boundary changes.
 
Thank you for continuing to voice your opinions, whatever it may be.
 
Please write your notes, e-mails and make your calls as SOON AS POSSIBLE, as
the last workshop before the Public Focus meetings is next Wednesday,
February 13th.
 
John Pickett
Hawkes Bluff/Ivanhoe Civic Association
 
  
 
 
 
From: Beverly A. Gallagher [mailto:bgallagher@browardschools.com]
Sent: Monday, February 04, 2008 11:29 AM
Subject: Community Boundary Scenario 4.3
 
Hello all,
 
Below is the proposed boundary scenario for the new West Broward (LLL)
High School and surrounding schools.
 
Please let me know, good or bad, what you think.  The School Board, Mr.
Notter and staff need your input to make a decision based on your needs.
The next Boundary workshop is scheduled for February 13.
 
There have been many rumors circulating concerning boundaries and the loss
of school programming.  At the South Area Advisory meeting last Friday,
Dr. Herbst assured us all that many new high schools have opened over the
last few years and the new openings did not result in a loss of
programming.  A few years ago when Everglades opened, the same rumors
circulated.  There was not a loss of programming at either Flanagan HS nor
at Everglades HS.
 
If you have heard that there would be a loss to a specific program, please
contact Dr. Herbst or me to make sure you have the correct information.
 
The other scenarios and enrollment data can be found at [
]browardschools.com.
 
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask.
 
As always, thank you for your assistance.
 
 
Beverly Gallagher
School Board Member
District 2
Broward County Schools
600 SE 3rd Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
phone 754-321-2002
fax 754-321-2700
 



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

When showing his picture one of the neighbors has recognized this man.  He is posing as a window washer in the neighborhood.  He is persistant in wanting to perform this service.  You might want to post the description of his car to be on the look out in case anyone sees this person in the neighborhood again.    He currently drives a newer model Hyundai Sonata  Limited-  Dark Blue - 4 door - Tag number:  X60  9R0.
 
Several people have seen him in the area - so I think everyone needs to have their guard up!!


 

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 16th!!!!

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 26th 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 36th 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 26th 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 10, 2008

There is info on the new taxes and impact on the cities and education as well as split opinions on these tax issues. Go to www.bcpa.net website to see how the proposed amendment will impact you if you upsize or downsize.


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 26th 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

| South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Click here to find out more!

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.

 

Posted December 26, 2007

Dear Neighbors & Friends,
 
Hope evryone had a great holiday season and wishes for a prosperous and safe
new year!
 
The School Board has arranged for an informational meeting and presentation
of the site for all residents who may be affected with the possible new high
school to be located on Flamingo Road and 26th Street in Davie. PLEASE
ATTEND ! In addition, there may be Davie Town Council members present.
Please continue to let them know how you feel regarding the site, be it for,
against or neutral.
 
 
Meeting place : Western High School
When: January 8th
Time: 7:00 pm.
 
The idea here is to inform local residents of the site, what it will look
like, and how it will affect them as neighbors.
 
We are still asking that NO BOUNDARY CHANGES be made until we have a
location for the school site chosen, and to look to alternative scheduling
(4x1 for ninth graders or continue capping), rather than upend several
thousand families over the next three - four years.
 
Contact the Davie Town council at www.davie-fl.gov  and the school board at
their website site: http://www.browardschools.com/.
 
 
Best wishes to all.
 

 

Posted December 20, 2007

Weston students won't suffer by going to Western High

By Deannamarie Loucks

I am a junior at Western High School, and I go to school with contemporaries who range in age from 14 to 18. I find it strange how one Weston parent seems to think the Cypress Bay age group is any different from Western's.

I have been in the Broward County School system for several years, and our authorities have always preached to us kindness, cooperation and tolerance. It's funny how a community that works constantly to teach equality suddenly turns its back when a situation like the movement of Cypress Bay students arises. According to South Florida Sun-Sentinel reporter Akilah Johnson, the "lines have been drawn" within the Broward school system regarding Weston students who will go to city schools and those who will not.

Frustration has risen from Weston parents, who say that only children whose parents pay Weston taxes should attend A-rated schools in Weston. What about the A-rated schools elsewhere, such as Western High (our principal, Scott Fiske, led us to be recognized as an "A" school last year)?

The fact of the matter is Weston parents are not afraid that their children will be sent to "bad" schools;"it is simply that they fear their children going to poor communities outside of Weston. Weston isn't the only wealthy city in Broward, despite what its residents may think. Well-groomed, maybe, but definitely not the only wealthy city. I would like to know what a child must do, besides have wealthy parents, to deserve to go to an A-rated school.

It is sheer ignorance that has propelled these Weston parents so far as to swarm e-mails around Broward County school officials and create a Web site. After all, according to the Sun-Sentinel story, aren't several freshmen already being shuttled to an annex in Sunrise? What is the difference if the incoming freshman were sent to another school, a facility where they would receive a more centralized education? The answer: It's not Weston.

I work for a doctor in Weston, and as I commute from my beautiful home in Davie, I notice no difference between it and Weston, except possibly the trees aligning the roadways and the horizontal stoplights instead of the vertical ones.

Additionally, I would know of no parents from my school that work three jobs, and if sending a few e-mails makes a person "savvy," my parents, and my contemporaries, must be experts. We don't write e-mails to save our students from going elsewhere; we write e-mails to make a difference toward worthwhile causes, like PTA meetings and fundraisers.

Board Member Beverly Gallagher mentions that this is a "very tense issue," because it not only concerns relieving students to go to Cypress Bay, but "the way they go to high school." Here at Western, we have buses, and believe it or not, a car line and parking lot!

In regards to what one incoming freshman said about not wanting to come to Western, where she would be around "all kinds of people," I would just like to let this young lady, as well as the potential new Weston students, know that we are just like them. We go to class, eat lunch with our contemporaries, and we even go to football games.

On the first day of school next year, if the plan to send Cypress Bay students to Western succeeds, I along with my contemporaries will jump off our horses and welcome the new students from Weston with open arms, not for their sake, but for the hope that they may tell their parents that going to school with "all kinds of people" is what life is all about.

Deannamarie Loucks is a resident of Davie.
 


 

Posted December 11, 2007

Dear friends and neighbors,

Many of us in Ivanhoe feel the following scenarios are some of the ones we can support in some fashion. We know some of you may prefer to attend LLL, until we know exactly where MMM will be built. Remember, once school boundaries happen to a neighborhood, we may not be able to return to either Cypress bay or MMM.  Please, whatever your position, be heard by attending this meeting and speak. Be nice and take the high road, and we prefer you speak as one of either the very first or very last, so you can make a rebuttal to what you may feel is being said before you speak.  TONIGHT, at the attached broward school site, we are supposed to have the new staff scenarios to review. We will make comments once reviewed.

We are also, as always, asking that Davie officials might wish to attend and support their residents; however, since we have not seen their participation in these meetings about the LLL boundaries, we don’t expect them to participate. If you do attend, please note that Weston, SW Ranches and Pembroke Pines officials and the town’s school committee members usually are in attendance to at least show they have an interest in the process. They may not speak, however they are there to lend support and gain knowledge about the process. In addition, we did not see any Davie officials at last evenings’ MMM site decision, which made many in the audience and some school board members question their cooperation to at least listen to the issues concerning these sites. (This is the end of my “political” opinion at this time).

IF you cannot attend, please write the school board regarding your opinion, for or against any of these maps or go on the site and express your thoughts for or against a certain scenario.

http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/schoolboundaries/0809BoundaryProcess/Scenarios.htm

MAKE SURE TO SEE THE Community Forum II MEETING TIMES BELOW:

We SHOULD like the following maps: (Please click the above link to see the scenario maps)

9.1 C – This is preferred, but the upper area may need to be tweaked a bit to satisfy “Weston’s” needs.

32.1C – Yes, keeps quite a few of Ivanhoe safe and attending Cypress Bay

26.1C – Gives “Choice” Not what we want, but will settle as a very last resort if we are all going to LLL anyway. Right now, we should HATE this map and only go it as a last resort. It was entered as a last option.

30.1C- Not bad…  actually good, but unfortunately takes an area fairly close to Cypress Bay to Western, even though it is only five miles from Western.

So… the following are NO’s!!!! (in my opinion, however, you might like them)

Both Staff Scenarios take everyone south of Griffin to LLL

16.1 C – NO ….. 19.1 C – NO….. 21.1C – NO…… 22.1C – HELL NO!!!! (This guy doesn’t not like us)…… 23.1 – NO…..

25.1C – Although this is good and save’s our area, it may not be acceptable to some Weston areas – Your can either support or oppose.………

27.1C- NO………….. 28.1C – No…………….  See below where we need you to attend Saturday if possible…

Boundary Process Meeting Dates



Community Forum II Flyers
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português

Meeting:

Date:

Time:

Location:

North Area &
North Central Area

December 15, 2007

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Sign up to speak

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Presentation

10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Questions & Community Input

Monarch High School Auditorium
5050 Wiles Road
Coconut Creek

South Area &
South Central Area

December 15, 2007

McArthur High School
6501 Hollywood Boulevard (Pines-east)
Hollywood

 

 

Good luck and have a safe weekend and holiday season.


 

Posted December 11, 2007

Broward School Board split on new high school

The fate of Broward County's newest high school was put on hold yet again Monday night when School Board members couldn't agree on where to build the campus, if at all.

School Board members Bob Parks and Stephanie Kraft think the district should scrap the plans and instead add classrooms at Flanagan and Everglades high schools as well as at one now under construction, LLL in Pembroke Pines.

It's the cheapest and quickest solution that fulfills the board's short-term goal of relieving critically overcrowded Cypress Bay High School in Weston, Parks said. And, he said, the district can keep looking for the perfect place to build the new school, dubbed MMM until a formal name can be chosen.

More than 5,500 students attend Cypress Bay, which was built in 2002 for 3,400.

Superintendent James Notter said he's "played these same story boards out many, many times," but feels the district needs the school to keep pace with new developments popping up in south Broward.

It's been a struggle for the school district to find a home for the much-needed high school. For more than a year, board members and district staff have debated — and rejected — 18 possible locations for MMM.

The classroom additions would cost $47.16 million, but would only relieve school overcrowding for five years, the superintendent said.

That's why, Notter said, he recommended building MMM on a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street — a location some in Davie oppose.

The board will vote today on whether to support Notter and designate Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street as the future home of MMM. The land and school would cost $97.1 million

Building the school at the Davie intersection is the least expensive of the five options the board discussed Monday. Construction at the Southwest 26th Street site would take the least amount of time, with a turnaround time of 46 months, according to Notter.

Several board members said Monday that MMM is necessary and agreed with Notter's recommendation, but board member Jennifer Gottlieb said she just didn't know what to do.

"I'm extremely undecided," she said. "I think there still is no perfect location."

The district typically needs at least 40 acres for high schools, a problem in a county where large tracts of land are scarce and price tags are sky-high for any available large parcels. And the district is under the gun to find a spot.

If the district doesn't pick a site and sign a construction contract by next year, it must get permission from the state to build the school.

"Battling it out with the state doesn't give me any warm fuzzies," Notter said. "In fact, it heightens my worry."

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


 

Posted December 3, 2007

Dear friends and neighbors,

Please read the attached article from the Sun-Sentinel.
 
For many, many weeks many of us have been saying this site is a better site than all of the others available, including the Bergeron site in Weston.  This site is at 26th Street and Flamingo Road. It is just about a mile NORTH of Flamingo Gardens on Flamingo Road. We still need the Davie Town Council to "approve" the site  and concept of a smaller school and we need the neighbors in the area to at least consider this possibility. Students would draw from our area, Ivanhoe, Imagination Farms and Stone Ridge Estates as well as Eastern SW Ranches. There are also students near Sawgrass on the north side of I- 595 who could attend here. What would then happen is the NW part of Weston students would relocate to Western High, which is much closer for them, even from Cypress Bay. This actually makes sense in regards to proximity and driving. Easy to bounder. Weston will not be happy, because they do not have the school in their town. We SHOULD be very happy and proud to have this school being considered in Davie. The fact is having a nice new school like this is worth more than the fact the Town will lose some tax revenue due to commercial development.
 
The problem is TWO of the five Davie Council members are opposed at this point. Bryan Caletka, wants the tax base for commercial development and Sue Starkey basically feels her voters/constituents will not want a high school on Flamingo Drive. The other three are non-committal and willing to listen, including Marlon Luis, our Council member.
 
We need you to understand what is at stake and to call, write and e-mail both the Davie Town Council AND the school board with your thoughts, for or against.
 
The basic challenge is IF MMM is NOT built, the school board will be forced to "supersize" the other schools in the area. The new LLL High School out by US 27 and Pines would very likely be our school if this happens. This school is 8-9 miles from us where the Flamingo site is 3.5 to 4 miles. We want to stay at Cypress Bay, however IF we HAVE to move, a closer smaller high school alternative, like on this Flamingo site, would be very acceptable.
 
However, we are inclusive to all and we do NOT exclude any opinions or "ram things down peoples throats".
 
Please write Mr. Caletka, Ms. Starkey and all the council with your opinion!!! Today. Go online to the Town of Davie and write them or go to: www.ivanhoecivicassociation.com and click on the appropriate links.
 
 
John Pickett
 
 
 

Broward schools superintendent wants new high school in Davie

 

Relief for overcrowded Cypress Bay High School will come in the form of a new high school in Davie, if the School Board follows a recommendation presented Monday by Superintendent Jim Notter.

Notter is urging the board to approve Broward's newest high school on a 31-acre site at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street — a $97.1 million location that could prove unpopular with leaders in both Davie and Weston.

Weston parents want a new high school built in their city.

Said Weston Mayor Eric Hersh, when told of Notter's recommendation: "Whoa. They recommended what? That doesn't help us one bit. It doesn't help us one iota. It's too far east to help anyone."

Davie Vice Mayor Bryan Caletka doubted the school district would get approvals they would need from the town council to get MMM built. And he said he wouldn't hesitate to push to sue if "the district tried to ram it down our throat."

Board members will discuss MMM, a project long delayed by questions about cost and location, at a Dec. 10 workshop.

The proposal would essentially shift students east, moving 2,600 from Cypress Bay in Weston to Western High School in Davie, and moving 1,000 students from Western High to MMM.

Building MMM at Flamingo Road and Southwest 26th Street is the least expensive of all the options for a new school site. It also would take the least amount of time to build, with a turnaround time of 46 months, Notter wrote in his presentation to board members.

He said Monday night he believed the district could work with Davie officials. In response to Hersh's comment that his recommendation solved nothing, Notter said, "It certainly solves something to me when 2,600 kids come out of Cypress Bay."

Notter said the least expensive option the board could consider would be to simply add classrooms at Flanagan and Everglades high schools as well as at one now under construction, LLL in Pembrokes Pines. The classroom additions would cost $47.16 million, but even then would only relieve school overcrowding for five years, Notter wrote.

It's been a struggle for the school district to find a home for MMM. For more than a year, School Board members have debated, and rejected, possible locations for the new high school. Parents and Weston city leaders have clamored for a new school to relieve overcrowding at Cypress Bay, a school built for 3,400 that now houses more than 5,500 students.

The district needs at least 40 acres for the school — a problem in a county where large tracts of land are scarce, and price tags are sky-high for whatever large parcels remain available. And the district is under the gun to find a spot.

In October, as the search for a spot to build MMM continued, the School Board capped enrollment at Cypress Bay.

Laurie Levinson, whose son attends class at Cypress Bay's ninth grade annex, said she wants MMM built. Other options, such as adding classrooms to existing schools, "don't allow for any growth" in the student population, Levinson said.

Should the real estate market improve, more space will be needed to accommodate more families in southwest Broward, she said.

"I believe they should build an MMM," Levinson said. "They've been promising an MMM and that's what they should do."

Kathy Bushouse can be reached at kbushouse@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4556.


 

Posted November 30, 2007

Sent: Friday, November 30, 2007 6:50 PM
Subject: FDOT Meeting Notice for US 27 Improvements
 

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will hold a

public meeting to discuss proposed improvements for US 27 (State Road 25),
on Tuesday, December 4, 5-8 p.m., Weston Library Branch, 4205 Bonaventure
Blvd., Weston. The meeting will have an informal format and no formal
presentation will be made. FDOT project representatives will be available to
discuss the project and answer questions.  Reconstruction of a 20.5-mile
segment of the roadway, between Griffin Road and the Palm Beach County line,
will cost an estimated $18.6 million. Construction is expected to begin in
May of 2009, with completion in early 2010.

 

Posted November 27, 2007

Dear Neighbors & Friends,

See this article below.
 

One community scenario/map prepared by members of our community (Ivanhoe/SW Ranches) made this “first cut”, which is good news (for the moment). This does not mean we are “safe”, as this is a very slippery slope with very active & politically connected forces working to remove our entire community from Cypress Bay High and move our children to “LLL” beginning next year. Seniors would be safe, but it would change the scope of where our children attend high school and possibly, as an end result, middle school for the future.

Several factors go into this decision which is ultimately made by the School Board and we need to keep the e-mails, letters and especially phone messages going to the school board members. Map 9.1 is the one we are supporting at this point, however, we have several others still being considered, including two “Staff” maps that take us out completely still in play. Any of these might be altered from its original form and edited, as most are, to change to the shifting political wind.

Everyone has been giving their own opinions and it is being noticed. No matter where you want to attend, LLL or Cypress Bay… PLEASE remember, take the high road and be polite and thoughtful when contacting the school board members. Remember, this is a tough decision and they need our help to make this decision, not our criticism of this somewhat flawed system we all have to work in. The fact is some of these board members do not think MMM should be built at all, which would force all these area high schools to become “supersized”. They need to know what our opinion is… You know the website.. www.browardschools.com.

Also, Dec 3rd will be the Superintendents recommendation for high school “MMM”, so we have a lot being considered within a very few days.

More to come during our next bulletin and we are setting up the next Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting soon.  The subjects will be Schools, Crime and of course the never ending sound wall.

Thanks.

John.

List of new Broward school boundary scenarios halved by School Board

| Sun-Sentinel

6:53 PM EST, November 27, 2007

 

The list of new Broward school boundary scenarios for more than two dozen campuses, including over-crowded Cypress Bay High School in Weston, was halved Tuesday by the School Board.

Most of the suggestions shuffled students from one school to another to relieve packed campuses. Others sought to determine who will attend four new schools being built in Parkland, Sunrise, Hollywood and Pembroke Pines.

And while 23 elementary, middle and high schools are included in the process, talk of what to do about The Bay dominated Tuesday's discussion.

Some of the suggestions still on the table: Sending some students from Cypress Bay and Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines to school under construction on Pines Boulevard and Johnson Street on U.S. 27. and shifting other Cypress Bay students to Cooper City High School.


 

Posted November 24, 2007

Dear friends and neighbors,

We all hope everyone enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving.

It is now time to get back to work regarding the scheduling scenarios and the maps regarding the LLL school boundaries.

Please click into BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOUNDARIES for the Boundary Department. Click on 2008-09 scenarios and the current maps are displayed in Staff and Community scenarios. The only one that does not place us out of Cypress Bay is 9.1. Please make comments on as many of the maps that you wish and if you want to develop your own map, please do so as none of us are experts. Maps are due TO the school board at KC Wright (downtown) by Tuesday 11/27 at NOON>>>> .

The meeting dates are also on this site. Please attend and let the school board staff and school board members know where you desire to attend.

Community scenarios in the tables as well as any boundary scenario requested by the Board after the November 27, 2007 School Board Workshop III will be presented at the Community Forum on December 15, 2007 and School Board Workshop IV on January 22, 2007.

John Pickett


 

Posted November 19, 2007

Tuesday 7:30pm meeting – Silver Trail. We now know the Site Planning Committee has recommended the 36th Street Weston Bergeron site for MMM. Now we can intelligently make better decisions regarding Ivanhoe Boundaries. Pete La Moia and I will be meeting afterward to discuss ‘items’, so, if anyone wishes to join us, we will meet in the back of the room after the meeting. Thanks.

John Pickett

Thank you for your early opinions. Tonight is the first of many meetings to discuss boundaries at LLL. At Silver Trail at 7:30 Please show early, at least 45 minutes early, to register to speak. The school board staff NEEDS to see a FACE with the names. They obviously do not care for our children like we do.

Thanks. John Pickett


 

Posted November 19, 2007

Residents,
Town of Southwest Ranches Administration was notified today of the following
meeting:
 
What: Cypress Bay High School boundary discussion.
 
When:  Tuesday, November 20th, 2007 at 7:00 pm
 
Where: Silver Trail Middle School, located at 18300 Sheridan Street,
Pembroke Pines, FL 33331

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Wisniewski,

 

Thank you for contacting Vice Mayor Wexler regarding the location and boundaries of the School Board of Broward County’s High School MMM.  Although you reside in the Vice Mayor’s Commission District 5, the Broward County Commission has no legal authority over the decision of the School Board.  As all nine members will ultimately vote on the matter you should contact your School Board Members to voice your opinions and concerns.  At a minimum we would suggest you contact Robin Bartleman and Jennifer Gottlieb who are at-large school board members (representing the entire county) and Phyllis Hope, who is your District 6 School Board Member.  You can find contact information for the School Board of Broward County at www.browardschools.com

Sincerely,

Margaret Wolter

Aide to Vice Mayor Lois Wexler

Broward County Commissioner, District 5

voice: 954-357-7005

fax: 954-357-7044

 

To Lois Wexler,

            As a resident of western Davie, I would prefer our children go to Cypress Bay High School. Our son Michael is graduating from Cypress Bay this year and we want our daughter Jennifer to follow him to this school. Jennifer was “bordered out” of Falcon Cove Middle School and is presently attending Silver Trail.

We are requesting your support in this matter. If the Cypress Bay option is not viable, we are requesting your support in securing the High School site at the Weekly Brother’s Property at SW 26th and Flamingo Road 2nd choice is SW 36th Street west of Cypress Bay.

Thank you in advance.

Sincerely

Rick and Beth Wisniewski


 

Posted November 18, 2007

Please write the school board and tell them you do NOT wish to attend LLL
and remain at Cypress Bay. It looks like we have made some headway!
 
 Hi Weston Parents,
 
 Please read the following message to give you an
 update of what is occurring
 with the Broward County School Board and Cypress
 Bay. I would like to add
 that I spoke with the people recommending the Staff
 Scenarios which would
 take south of Griffin Road residents to LLL and the
 Northeast corner of
 Weston to Western High.  This is the only solution
 that makes sense to
 relieve Cypress Bay by approx. 1600 students and
 meet class size for next
 year. Everyone, and I mean everyone, at the very
 least needs to go to
 www.Browardschools.com and email the entire school
 board members and let
 them know that you approve of the staff scenario
 4.1s either 24 or 36
 classroom edition. Tell them that this is the only
 responsible scenario to
 relieve Cypress Bay and make room for the new Middle
 School.  The
 recommendation board members have told us that the
 School Board is hearing
 Southwest Ranches loud and clear. Southwest Ranches
 wants to stay at Cypress
 Bay. This would be fine if we weren't critically
 overcrowded by approx. 2200
 kids. They are closer to LLL and Western can only
 take approx. 600 kids.
 Also, Cypress Bay had 170 incidents where the police
 came to the school for
 fighting, etc. We are 3rd in Broward County for
 number of incidents.  Is
 this because we live in a bad area? or it is due to
 the number of students
 at one campus?  Parents, let's be responsible for
 OUR KIDS and bombard the
 school board to do WHAT'S RIGHT!  Please call me or
 email me with any
 questions, or if you have any difficulty emailing
 your recommendation.
 
 P.S. Please attend the meeting at Silver Trail
 Middle School on Tuesday
 night 7:30-8:30pm to show you are concerned parent
 and approve of the staff
 recommendation.
 1.       Go to:
 
 
 2.       Click “ 2008-09 School Boundary Scenarios”
 
 3.       Now you can click on either the staff or
 the Community Scenarios
 
 4.       Once you click on one of the 2, you can see
 the maps proposed
 
 5.       To vote on any of the boundary maps, there
 is a link on the top of
 the page just above the maps “To comment on any of
 the following Community
 Scenarios, please click here”
 
 6.       There you must fill out if you agree or
 disagree with the map, what
 map it was, and a comment if you wish. Make sure to
 complete all parts of
 your name, email and telephone number or your vote
 will not count. Your
 comment will not be accessible to the public.
 
 7.       Click Submit and you are set!
 1.       Ve a la pagina:
 
 
 
 2.       Click en “ 2008-09 School Boundary
 Scenarios”
 
 3.       Hay dos cajitas que dicen “Stadd Scenarios”
 y “Community Scenarios”
 puedes click en el que quieras
 
 4.       Después que te metas en uno de los dos,
 puedes ver los mapas
 propuestos
 
 5.       Para votar hay un link ariba de la pagina
 que dice “To comment on
 any of the following Community Scenarios, please
 click here”
 
 6.       Tienes que llenar sit u estas de acuerdo
 con el mapa o no, el
 numero del mapa, y si tienes comentario. Requerda
 que necesitas llenar tú
 nomber, email, y teléfono porque si no tu voto no va
 ha contar. Tu
 comentario no se va ha ver al publico.
 
 7.       Click “ Submit” y estas listo!
 
 Once again, some Cypress Bay news.
 
 I know that most of you might feel "safe" because
 you think you live close
 enough to not be boundered out of Cypress Bay and
 you are probably right.
 However, that is not what this is about.  This is
 about putting pressure on
 our elected officials to do the right thing and take
 out enough kids so that
 we are no longer overcrowded and the annex can be
 freed up to build middle
 school NN to relieve Falcon and Tequesta.
 
 Projections for CB for 2011/12 is 5,900 students.
 You read it right, 5,900
 students.  And since projections are always low, we
 are probably looking at
 more than 6,000.  If that is not okay with you, then
 you must come out and
 join your community at these meetings.
 

 I am telling you, if you continue the complacency,

 our kids will suffer.
 This is far from a done deal.  This is our last
 chance for any relief
 because this is when they are boundering the new
 high school, LLL.  If this
 opportunity passes and we lose this battle because
 we are complacent, your
 kids will be at CB with 6,000 other kids.  Not to
 mention that Falcon Cove
 will never get any relief.  I am sure this is not
 okay with any of you!  CB
 currently has 5,500 students, so obviously you can
 see that the numbers
 increase each year.  There are more freshmen going
 in next year than there
 are seniors leaving and that trend continues.
 
 Please come out to Silver Trails Middle on Tuesday
 night at 7:30 PM.  Silver
 Trails is located on Sheridan and 184th.  It is very
 close and easy to get
 to.   This forum will be very telling and you will
 learn a lot about what we
 are up against.  I hope we can count on all of you.
 Do it for your kids.
 
 Read on for the update on today's meeting.
 
 
.htm> Boundary Scenarios
 
 
 
 I just got back from the first Community Forum at
 McArthur HS in Hollywood
 and let me tell you that it was an eye opener!
 
 The staff made presentations on scenarios which they
> formulated and
> scenarios brought forth by various community
> members. I thought that the
> Staff Scenarios were well thought out and helped
> give Cypress Bay the relief
> it needs. According to their scenarios, students
> from the north and south of
> Weston would be reboundered to LLL and Western. The
> way in which they set
> the potential boundaries, everyone in the
> surrounding schools would meet
> classroom size reduction because of the reboundering
> and because of 24 or 36
> classroom additions which could be added to LLL and
> Western. (The Western
> classroom addition is already approved and will be
> ready close to the start
> of the next school year)  AND the ninth grade
> Cypress Bay annex would be
> eliminated....ninth graders would be on the main
> campus!!  The district
> could then start building NN to relieve Falcon Cove,
> Tequesta Trace and
> Indian Ridge!!!
>
>
>
> But of course, some parents there were strongly
> opposed to these scenarios
> because they live to the south of Weston and would
> be boundered out of
> Cypress Bay.
>
>
>
> The scenario whereby Savanna students would be
> bussed to LLL has disappeared
> ... Hooray!!!!  We all got together, worked together
> and they took that off
> the table!!!!
>
>
>
> THEN...there were the community scenarios. Staff
> went through all of them
> and, without actually saying so, discounted some of
> the scenarios. These
> discounted scenarios relieved Cypress Bay but
> overcrowded other schools and,
> therefore; those schools would not meet classroom
> size reduction for next
> year, even with the classroom additions. One scenario particularly made me
> uneasy because it was NOT discounted... it showed
> TAZ 597 being reboundered
> out of Cypress Bay. Guess what!! That TAZ is where
> students from The Ridges,
> Emerald Estates, Weston Place and Opal Creek live!!!
>
>
>
> Although the Staff Scenarios make more sense to
> me...doesn't necessarily
> mean that one of them will be chosen.
> Again...parents in our communities
> cannot be complacent...otherwise we could be driving
> by Cyress Bay on the
> way to dropping off our high schoolers at LLL.
>
>
>
> Our voices need to be heard. There are many things
> that some Weston parents
> said today which are not valid reasons for keeping
> your children in Cypress
> Bay (according to the School Board).... one of those
> being that we are just
> across the street....that our children can walk or
> ride their bikes there.
> There are several schools where children live
> "across the street" from a
> particular school, but are boundered somewhere else.
> This is happening now,
> where families live within a stones throw to
> Tequesta, but they go to Falcon
> Cove. I know that this does not make sense, but that
> is the way it is.
> Schools located within the city limits cannot be
> referred to as "Weston
> schools"...they are Broward County Schools. Our
> Weston taxes as high as they
> may be ... don't mean a thing to the school board
> and in particular this
> process.
>
>
>
> When determining new boundaries certain elements are
> considered by the
> school board. These elements are enrollment &
> capacity, proximity, feeder
> patterns, diversity, community cohesiveness, and
> natural barriers.
> Oh....natural barriers which brings me back to our
> neighbors to the
> south....they claim that they are in the same
> position as Savannah regarding
> the safety of their children. Their roads empty to
> the north (Griffin Rd)
> and their students, if reboundered to LLL, would
> need to drive to Griffin
> and then out to Rt27 to get to school. Their roads
> empty to the north not
> because of natural barriers (such as canal) but
> because they chose to put up
> barriers. Their reasoning that their children would
> be placed in danger
> ...just like Savannah kids...doesn't wash. Take the
> barriers down or just
> open them during school hours. End of problem.
>
>
>
> Whether you presently have elementary students,
> middle schoolers or high
> schoolers...you need to get involved. This is our
> window of opportunity to
> have logical and reasonable boundary changes. What
> is decided during the
> current process is what it will be for years to
> come...especially since the
> construction of MMM is now questionable ...there is
> "rumor" that Davie is
> being considered for MMM.
>
>
>
> Please mark your calendars. The next meeting will be
> at Silver Trail on
> Tuesday, November 20th at 7:30pm. The next community
> forum will be on
> December 15th at McArthur High School in Hollywood
> (it is just off the
> Turnpike and very easy to get to ) We need everyone
> to attend both of these
> meetings and voice your opinion.

 

Hi, I am not sure where you live, but wake up and

> smell the horses.  I  live
> in SW Ranches and we don't have barriers that could
> be brought down.   95% of
> our streets are closed or dead ended by canals.  I
> would watch what  you say
> and who you say it too.  You should gather all the
> facts before you  spread
> rumors.  Most SW Ranches residents live 2 miles or
> less from Cypress  Bay and we
> only add less than 200 students to Cypress Bay.
>
> You are asking for young drivers to get onto death
> highway (US 27) and  drive
> to school.  What if it were your child?  Think about
>  it?  Remember the
> criteria for boundaries, proximity, feeder  patterns
> and diversity.  Our children
> do attend Manatee Bay then  Falcon Cove and we are
> much closer to Cypress Bay
> then most other  committees.  Then you have
> diversity...what type of school
> would Cypress  Bay be without SW Ranches children?
> Remember this is county
> school, not a Weston school.
>
> Thanks so much for spreading rumors.
> KELLI

 

Subject: Boundary Scenarios

 
http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/schoolboundaries/0809BoundaryProcess/Scenarios.htm

Dear residents & friends.

Please make your opinion known by going to the boundary website for scenerios and MAKE A COMMENT on what you like or do not like. I personally think BOTH STAFF SCERIOS are Horrible for our area, as they take us wholesale to LLL, because it is easy, however, we will ALL be driving 2 to 3 times farther.

 

Scenes 6.1 and 9.1 make the Cypress Bay boundary better, but both could use tweaking, especially in the North Weston Taz’s. Let Staff know by submitting this web format to them ASAP, as they are looking for more comments via the website vs. just speaking.

 

If you want to submit your own scenario, you must do so by NOON on Nov. 27th to the Boundary Department at the KC Wright building in Ft. Lauderadel..

 


 

Posted November 17, 2007

Dear Vice Mayor Wexler,

Here in Davie, we appreciate your involvement and tireless representation, especially regarding our children’s’ education. On this Monday morning, November 19th, the School District is holding a site selection meeting regarding High School MMM to be located either in Davie or Weston. 

One if the properties being considered is located at 26th Street and Flamingo Road. We have heard some Davie council members may be opposed for financial (commercial taxes) or lifestyle reasons. We all realize the importance of and have respect for the Davie rural lifestyle; however, many of us, including myself, feel that the quality of education must be considered as more critical in this situation.

We believe this location is the best available as it has the road and land infrastructure. In addition, with current estimates it could be built in 24 months, if approved.

If a location for MMM is not determined and is not built, the area schools will not meet class size or meet the needs of the students. The land at 26th Street & Flamingo would need a land use amendment and I ask that Broward County immediately consider this measure to facilitate the building of this much needed school. We would hope Davie would support and welcome this school, however from what we have heard this is not necessarily the case.

Please assist us in this endeavor to educate our children.

Best regards,

John Pickett


 

Posted November 16, 2007

Dear neighbors and friends:

Our County Commissioner is Lois Wexler. We need her assistance and we need Western Davie residents to call, e-mail or fax her about an important subject.

The subject is about High School MMM and the fact that we need a site selected to relieve Cypress Bay High.

The site selection committee is THIS MONDAY morning. Ms. Wexler needs to know our preferences as a Davie community.

There are 4 sites of which many of us feel one is the best for all involved, and a second if needed, as a back-up site:

As most of you know, if MMM is not built, our whole area may be fully boundered to either LLL  and/or we may have a portion of us attend, believe it or not, Flanagan/Cooper City/Western. We are attempting to retain all our residents in Cypress Bay, however there is heavy activity to keep us out.

We need to send her a message that we support either site, however, we prefer the:

  1. The Weekly Brothers Property at SW 26th and Flamingo Road is our preference. This is the closest free land with a willing seller that we can find for a great site.

The second site is at SW 36th Street, west of Cypress Bay, however this site is more expensive and has issues that will delay it’s opening. If delay’s happen or MMM is not built, we will all be moved somewhere as 1550 students need to be moved out of Cypress Bay.

Please send your thought’s to:

Lois Wexler, Vice Mayor

Broward County

lwexler@broward.org

Phone 954-357-7005

Fax 954-357-7044

Please help us all by phoning, e-mail or fax as soon as possible

Thanks,

 John Pickett

 

And, PS, have you checked the new community scenarios? It's getting worse. We
on the east of I-75 are going to Cooper City High in some of them... (13 and
18). -Pete LaMoia

 


Posted November 17, 2007

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,

 
Attached please find my listing in Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe. I will be holding an Open House at this house tomorrow, Sunday November 18, 2007 from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. This is a beautiful Oxford Model with Screened Pool on a 10,000 sq.ft. Waterfront Lot. It has a Tropical Paradise backyard with Royal Palms and no Rear Neighbours. There were (3) of this same Model sold in the $600,000's in Hawkes Bluff in 2006 ($635,000, $620,000, & $596,000). This Model is a great deal at $444,900. Hawkes Bluff is a great family community with all (3) "A" Rated Schools and a low HOA fee of only $220 per year. Please come by to take a look tomorrow. You can also View the Virtual Tour @ http://tours4.vht.com/cbf/t1111750 .
 
Ivanhoe Residents - You know what a great deal this is for an Oxford Model.  If you have any friends, family members, or co-workers who are interested in moving to Ivanhoe, please have them come to the Open House or call me for a private viewing.  There are also several good deals on houses currently available in Ivanhoe.
 
Please visit a personal page I've set up for you that contains property listings of interest. Click the link below to view. If after clicking the link, your Internet browser does not launch, right click on the link and Copy the Shortcut. Then paste the Shortcut into your browser's Address Field.

RE1 Detail View

Best Regards,

ROBERT GIORDANO
Coldwell Banker Residential R.E.
1760 Bell Tower Ln
Weston, FL 33326
Cell (954) 593-9371
Fax: (954) 384-6577
E-mail: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
http://www.BrowardHomeExpert.com



RE1 Detail View

 

 

Posted November 13, 2007

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

 
We had a good turnout at the first meeting at Silver Trail last evening, however, this is a LONG haul and we need to let everyone hear what we want and need for our future schools. If you want to stay at Cypress or attend LLL, this is the time to speak up and submit new scenarios for boundaries! This page has a LOAD of data that any of our community can use to develop their own scenario. Remember, we need to take the high road and speak up for what we feel is best for our children now and in the future.
 
The next meeting will be from 8:30am to 12 noon, THIS Saturday at McArthur High.- 6501 Hollywood Blvd.. Please see the notice below under Community Forum I. IF you wish to speak, you MUST sign up between 8:30am and 9am, with the meeting starting at 9:00am. The School Board staff will show ALL the scenarios and answer questions. Be there if you have an interest in seeing how all the scenarios could effect  your student and community if selected by the School Board in March 2008 for next school year. This is also an opportunity to hear what others are saying. Please e-mail me if you are attending. Thanks!!!!
 
John Pickett
 

2008-09 Boundary Process

Additional 2008-09 Boundary Process information will be posted when available.

 

 

Boundary Process Timeline (pdf)
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português

Boundary Process Scenario Instructions
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português
Boundary Scenario Deadlines:
1st submission - Thursday, November 8, 2007 at noon
2nd submission - Tuesday, November 27, 2007 at noon

Boundary Scenario Materials

TAZ Maps

2008-12 Student Enrollment Projections by TAZ

Updated EFPI


Boundary Process Meeting Dates

 

 
Meeting: Date: Time: Location:
Elementary School "A"
Flyer Announcement
October 24, 2007 10:00 a.m.
Piper High School
Small Auditorium
8000 NW 44th Street
Sunrise
 
Elementary School "A"
Flyer Announcement
October 17, 2007 7:00 p.m.
Piper High School
Small Auditorium
8000 NW 44th Street
Sunrise
 
Elementary School "C"
Flyer Announcement

November 15, 2007 - 7:00 p.m.

November 20, 2007 - 9:00 a.m.

South Broward High School
Auditorium
1901 North Federal Highway
Hollywood
 
Elementary School "Z"
Flyer Announcement
 
November 7, 2007 9:00 - 9:30 a.m. - Update Meeting
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Joint Focus Forum

7:00 - 7:30 p.m. - Update Meeting
7:30 - 8:30 p.m. - Joint Focus Forum
 
Stoneman Douglas High School
5901 Pine Island Road
Parkland
High School "LLL"
Flyer Announcement
November 13, 2007 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
Silver Trail Middle School
Cafeteria
18300 Sheridan Street
Pembroke Pines
High School "LLL"
Flyer Announcement
November 14, 2007 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
Glades Middle School
Media Center
16700 SW 48 Court
Miramar


Community Forum I Flyers
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português
Meeting: Date: Time: Location:
North Area &
North Central Area
November 17, 2007
8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Sign up to speak

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Presentation

10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Questions & Community Input
Monarch High School Auditorium
5050 Wiles Road
Coconut Creek

 
South Area &
South Central Area
November 17, 2007 McArthur High School
6501 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood


Community Forum II Flyers
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português
Meeting: Date: Time: Location:
North Area &
North Central Area
 
December 15, 2007

8:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Sign up to speak

9:00 - 10:00 a.m.
Presentation

10:00 - 12:00 p.m.
Questions & Community Input

Monarch High School Auditorium
5050 Wiles Road
Coconut Creek

 
South Area &
South Central Area
December 15, 2007 McArthur High School
6501 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood


First Public Hearing Flyers
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português
Meeting: Date: Time: Location:
First Public Hearing
Elementary, Middle, and High
February 26 & 27, 2008 TBA Plantation High School Auditorium
6901 Northwest 16th Street
Plantation


Second Public Hearing Flyers
English || Español || Kreyòl || Português
Meeting: Date: Time: Location:
Second Public Hearing
Elementary, Middle, and High
March 25 & 26, 2008 TBA Plantation High School Auditorium
6901 Northwest 16th Street
Plantation
 
 
     

School Boundaries Home || Boundary FAQs || School Boundary Maps || browardschools.com

Some documents on this site require Adobe Reader software.
Click below to download Adobe's free software.


 

Posted November 13, 2007

Boundary community forum meetings for the public to address which school

they would like their community to attend are scheduled.  Do you want your
neighborhood to continue to attend school where they are or attend another
school?  Your input is needed.
 
The first one is tomorrow night at Silver Trail at 7:30pm after the LLL
naming meeting.  Please pass this around to anyone that you think might be
interested.
 
Thank you.
 
 
Beverly Gallagher
Board Chair
School Board Member
District 2
Broward County Schools
600 SE 3rd Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
phone 754-321-2002
fax 754-321-2700
 

Posted November 10, 2007

Dear residents, students and friends of Ivanhoe, Davie.
 
This is the FIRST of boundary discussions regarding the maps that have been submitted to move our children from Cypress Bay to LLL or Western High.
 
If you have an interest in voicing your opinion, please attend.
 
We are pretty sure there will be a lot of people from areas other than Ivanhoe residents.
 
If we (Ivanhoe) do not show and give our opinion to the District school board staff, we will not have a great influence on the decision.  (See flyer below)
 
John Pickett
 


Posted November 12, 2007

 
Please see above announcement.
 
It is MORE important to attend the LLL Boundary meeting at 7:30pm, same
place, TOMORROW!!!!! to SPEAK about the boundary's regarding LLL.
 
We need to show up, REGISTER at least 30 minutes (6:30pm)in advance to SPEAK
about what we want regarding this issue.
 
If you cannot attend, go on www.browardschools.com go to boundary
department, go to scenerios and tell the staff what you think of their
terrible maps. This is a long haul type of thing and we will have other
opportunities to let the District know what we think.
 
Thanks.
 
-----Original Message-----
From: Beverly A. Gallagher [mailto:bgallagher@browardschools.com]
Sent: Monday, November 12, 2007 8:18 AM
Subject: Fwd: FW: LLL Meeting
 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
The Community vote for naming the new LLL high school will take place:
 
Tuesday, November 13th
at Silver Trail Middle School
  @ 6:30 pm
Below is the list that we will be voting from
 
Please join us for this meeting to vote!!
 
 
School Name
Independence High School
Samuel E. Gregg High School
Oasis High School
 
Mascot
Warriors
Hawkes
Wolves
 
Colors
Navy & Carolina Blue
Burgundy/Navy/White
Royal blue/Black
 
 
Clair Perdomo
South Area Advisory Chair
Broward County Public Schools
954-562-4161 Cell
 
 
 

 

Posted November 10, 2007

Dear neighbors and freinds,
 
Some scenerios are in. The school board will NOT vote on any of these until March and we have two more meetings in November. I would not panic just yet, but you need to be informed. It is not a pretty sight, yet.
 
Here is the first wave of scenerios. Staff and community will submit more. The scenerios do not take into account "MMM" being built. Only two scenerios keep us at Cypress Bay. Most have our whole area attending "LLL".  Please review and give the staff your opinion, for against or neutral. If you feel like writing the School Board, staff, or your Davie Councilmembers with your opinions, please do so. Go to www.browardschools. com - Boundary Department, then to this link.
 
I am supporting only 6.1C and 9.1C at this time.
 
Thank you. John Pickett 
 
 
 

2008-09 Boundary Scenarios


Scenarios will be posted as they become available.

Staff Scenarios

Community Scenarios

 


 

Posted November 3, 2007

Dear Davie Town Council,

Ivanhoe residents need your help. In bullet form, we have certain points that we feel make sense for all the children. We need you to meet with, phone or contact school board members and Jim Notter to discuss this issue supporting our overall wishes regarding boundaries. The school board members and Mr. Notter also need to know how we feel regarding the METHODS being used to try and move our children out of Cypress Bay. We overwhelmingly want to stay at Cypress Bay High. Under separate cover, I will send several short e-mails representing many of our resident responses as documentation.

Þ      Most of the residents in Ivanhoe do not want to attend “LLL” because of the proximity and driving routes and distances. It is nearly double the time and distance for many of our community. School bus routes would be horrendous.

Þ      Most of the Ivanhoe residents do NOT want to attend Western High, because of proximity and driving routes. This is because of the rural roads or longer distances in heavy traffic. Bus routes would take almost as much time as going to LLL. Direct drive to Cypress vs. longer winding distances to Western & LLL.

Þ      WE, as a community, WANTED to attend a new high school near Silver Trail in SW Ranches, but were denied, because the land was not suitable for a high school. This school was about one mile farther than Falcon Cove and Cypress Bay. This is proof that we don’t mind moving, but to a similar proximity and logical location.

Þ      WE agreed to attend to Silver Trail Middle to relieve Falcon Cove, but ONLY with the understanding we would be attending the new high school (that never happened) on the SW Ranches land. Now, we can’t get back to Falcon Cove, until NN middle school is built in Sunrise.

Þ      1000 kids have to leave Cypress Bay or the Class size will not be met. This will cost the school board significant money if class size is not met. We want to help and will support scenario’s that move a proportionate % of children, but we should not be sacrificed as a whole community, just so Weston can have it’s residents attend schools located within Weston city limits. Be logical and fair. This is primarily a Weston population and growth problem, so they should take on the proper proportion of the solution. 80% of the students in Cypress Bay live in Weston.

Þ      WE MUST support having MMM built as quickly as possible, or all three schools Western, Cypress Bay and LLL will become overcrowded and will damage the student’s quality of education.

Þ      IF MMM was to be built closer in proximity, we would be very agreeable to move to it. The land at the NE corner of Orange Drive and Flamingo Drive would be equal distance to Cypress Bay for our community. This Davie location could bring students from SW Ranches, Ivanhoe, Imagination Farms, Riverstone, Carlton Ranches Saddlebrook and Long Lake area’s. It would be a brand new school and would help mostly DAVIE students. In addition, at least being open to having a new high school at this location, would create a willingness to partner with others and show an effort to help, rather than put up obstacles in trying to resolve this important issue.

There has been an effort by some who wish only City residents attend CITY located schools. This is a county school district. There were even petitions that asked that Cypress Bay be made part of the boundary process. The petition itself was NOT a problem, except it should NOT have been made a part of the process. These petitions were talked about at the last boundary workshop attended by board members. Parents, Weston Commissioners and others asked many Weston residents on a Saturday at the SW Regional Park (in Weston) to sign this petition. Our children and parents immediately heard that this petition was being circulated… HOWEVER, they heard the petition workers and volunteers on several occasions say:  “Sign this as we are trying to finally get rid of the students from S. W. Ranches, Davie and Pembroke Pines, so they don’t attend our schools here in Weston”.  

Some of our parents expressed outrage, others expressed disappointment. Most disappointing was during the next week, we heard many reports of some students at Cypress Bay asking our “Davie” students where they lived and basically told them “You won’t be here next year”. This type of activity is inappropriate and hurtful. Our kids are asking us these questions and we are telling them no decision has been made, so not to worry. Well, then are worried, as are kids from Weston and Pembroke Pines and S.W. Ranches. These kids have enough stress. In addition,  web discussions are open for all to read on the Sun Sentinel and a Weston website “www.NOTCRAP.com”, showing this same type of hurtful thinking.

This type of discussion is not appropriate and is damaging. We know there are many style differences between certain communities, however, these actions have now become hurtful and not to the politicians or even the parents in these municipalities, but to the students, the children and those teachers trying their hardest to provide for a great education for all our students.

We will continue to take the high road by saying this situation needs a fair and appropriate solution for ALL students whether in Weston, Davie, SW Ranches or Sunrise. Let’s do what best for the children and that is to get MMM built immediately. Please support the site at Flamingo and Orange Drive. I ask each of you please take the three minutes to call or contact all the Broward School board members and Mr. Notter by telling them and imploring them that our neighborhood, Ivanhoe and the students of Hawkes Bluff Elementary wants to remain at Cypress Bay HIGH School. Thank you.

John Pickett


From: John Pickett [mailto:jjpickett@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2007 7:33 PM
To: 'Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov'; 'Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov'; 'mike_crowley@davie-fl.gov'; 'susan_starkey@davie-fl.gov'; 'Marlon_Luis@davie-fl.gov'
Subject: School Board Cypress Bay capacity issues & ideas
Importance: High

Dear Davie Town Council,

We live in Davie. Our area neighborhood is known as Ivanhoe and we have been discussing and have been deeply involved in school capacity concerns, since Cypress Bay High and Falcon Cove Middle opened their doors. The Davie/Ivanhoe resident’s currently attend Silver Trail Middle and Cypress Bay High.  

Bear with this bit of history: Three years ago, we as parents in Ivanhoe and Southwest Ranches (Hawkes Bluff Elementary) sat down with school board advisory parents and boundary members and calmly discussed the fact that the future enrollment capacities at Falcon Cove and Cypress Bay were going to be coming to a breaking point. We knew land was being purchased in S W Ranches for a new high school and were basically guaranteed to attend that school when it was built in 2007-08 at the latest. We were asked to help Falcon Cove’s capacity concerns and allow the boundering of our children to Silver Trail then we would attend the new high school in S. W. Ranches; we would be able to again attend Falcon Cove once the new middle school “NN” came on board to relieve them. Falcon Cove is much, much closer for the majority of us, and it would be a horrible travel time / inconvenience for our children. However, we as a community, decided to perform a “good deed”, and decided to help the School Board relieve Falcon Cove immediately and supposedly Cypress Bay down the road. It sounded like a great plan until the land that was purchased fell through for a high school. It was NOT our fault the land was deemed not useable for a High School. It was a good land deal for an elementary school; however it would not help Cypress Bay’s future problems.

We, as an entire community have always thought of solutions to alleviate this capacity concern that was fair and logical with only our children’s best needs in mind and this includes the children in Weston and Pembroke Pines. However, we have already sacrificed plenty and we have stepped up to the proverbial plate too many times. The term “no good deed goes unpunished” is descriptive of our feelings and we are tired of fighting and having our children being pushed around from school to school. We have attended over the years Silver Trail, Falcon Cove, from Silver Trail, from Walter C. Young and started at Pioneer Middle. We were originally at Western High then have attended Cypress Bay since it’s inception. Our community, since 1987, has sacrificed over and over and over as other areas grew, our children were moved, because we have NO GROWTH. We cannot be moved from Hawkes Bluff Elementary, since it is literally part of our neighborhood.

This seems to now be the “Year of Cypress Bay’s Crisis” . The ironic thing is the problem is this has been coming at them and building momentum for at least five years. Was it really a surprise when the Savanna development and other residential developments in Weston were built in the last three years that it would overcrowd Cypress Bay? The people in charge of running the school advisory councils and other parents seem to lobby against and explore the reasons why “our” children are attending “their” schools located in Weston.  Some of these people seem to create controversies and start rumors where a problem may not even exist. They have hand fed articles to several newspapers and gone to the full court press to try and make erratic boundary moves, rather than prudently resolve the future concerns without damaging the children currently attending Cypress Bay High. I also don’t understand why the City of Weston Council members and staff are constantly at the school board meetings trying to push the boundary agendas at THIS point in time, when they should have taken care of the new school years ago. If they were THAT concerned, why didn’t they build a “Weston” Charter School”, like Pembroke Pines did when they saw that their city’s school capacity issue was serious? Today there should only be ONE agenda and that is what is best for the children and there should never be a political agenda, although we know politics is what this is all about.

Many parents in Weston have been told and feel the ONLY solution is boundary changes, which is not the truth. As they put it, “fair and responsible” boundary changes is the only way to relieve the overcrowding until “MMM” is built. The underlying motive is to have our children (not “Weston” kids) move out first, when to be honest about it, this problem has been created by the growth in Weston, not in Southwest Ranches or Ivanhoe or even Davie. The school board is having a preliminary boundary meeting Tuesday at 11:00am at KC Wright to discuss “LLL’s” boundary. The Weston parents want and are asking Cypress Bay to be considered in the mix and many of us actually agree that some small areas of SW Ranches and Pembroke Pines would be better off in LLL. However, we think there should be more serious consideration for a lot of various solutions. Cypress Bay is capped for this year, which helps and I applaud that decision. Cypress Bay itself needs to find those students attending from Dade County and other areas not belonging to the Cypress Zone. We know there will be a drop in enrollment when some of the South American residents return to their homes to the south after the 1st of the year. We also know a few Private and Charter high schools are expanding their capacity.

We know that Ivanhoe’s parents and children’s main problem in attending LLL has always been of the location, since Ivanhoe is located well more than 7 miles to LLL from our area and only 2.5 to 3 miles at the most to Cypress Bay. We have driven the routes and “Map Quested” the routes as well from all areas of Ivanhoe. Our residents have made this issue very clear in all our discussions. In addition, LLL will probably be projected as nearly overcrowded from the get go, with all the new residential construction happening in Western Pembroke Pines and Miramar over the next few years. We agree and emphasize one point, which is all of our schools here in Western Broward are good schools. This is an issue of proximity and what is best for the students. Right now, my daughter, a freshman student athlete at Cypress Bay waits for the bus, in the dark with seven other children and is picked up no later than 6:30am. It takes a 20-25 minute drive to arrive at the 9th grade annex in Sunrise and the return trip takes 45-50 minutes. This means our children are on a bus over an hour every day or at least five and a half hours in a normal school week. The anticipated bus ride to LLL would be in most cases at least doubled which is unconscionable and certainly not “fair or reasonable” by any means.

As far as checking data, there were two meetings set over the last few weeks to discuss these Capacity needs; The first had very low attendance, because frankly the meeting was set on the same night as Silver Trails' open house and many of us were never notified. Only a few parents showed up. They voted on solutions, however because of the low turnout, a second meeting was held with nearly 400 people in attendance. Most were from SW Ranches and Ivanhoe and from what I heard about 40-50 parents from Weston. We need to witness an actual recount of the voting ballots at both meetings to verify the votes and addresses of those attending, because I frankly think the solution of a boundary change could not have been a top three priority. Residents have asked me how the vote could come out so lopsided and to be very honest, I am asking that same question. Capping was in the top three and that is a great temporary move. Relocatables were also in the top three.

Many feel the Weston kids need to boundered out first, not the SWR’s and Ivanhoe kids. Being careful, we cannot be so sure ANY boundary change is desperately or critically needed at this point for Cypress Bay. We as residents don’t even have the final numbers and projections to determine what kind of problem exists. We also heard new properties are being considered, which will probably change all these scenarios and solutions once again. Neither of the two sites that are currently being considered is very attractive, at least in regards to the cost and time it will take to build them because of eminent domain and other issues.

I am concerned as it seems 4x1, double or split schedules are not really on the table as alternatives. In addition, the school board cannot decide on a best place to locate the school, because there are delays in determining who owns the property, high costs, environmental or eminent domain issues and it could take five years or more to get it built. Basically, we have been at the drawing board for three plus years, without anything of substance happening.

I really think to find or build the capacity at Western High School with the northern TAZ zones (800 students) in Tequesta Trace Middle to attend a new 36 classroom addition at Western High is a solid, albeit temporary solution, until MMM is finally settled on and built. This action would be fair, reasonable and cost effective. It is proximity-wise very prudent, since Western High is less than three miles away for all this residential area and the students would be kept in a comfortable, closely knit, not scattered, feeder pattern.

This action also gives us the time to work on the best possible permanent solution.

We would like the Town Council to become more involved by sending letters to the School Board using logic and fairness while supporting our wishes, because frankly, we have not seen much, if any representation for our area from the Town Council or others in the administration regarding this concern. If you have sent a resolution, like Southwest Ranches did, or have had phone conversations and discussed our issues with School Board members, please let us know, as this is important for our area.

Please remember, this cannot be seen as a political agenda, it is all about what is fair, reasonable and logical for all our children.

Best regards,

John J. Pickett

Current Founding Member- Chair, Ivanhoe Civic Association

Former Chair Child / Education Board – Town of Davie

Current MPO-CIR member Town of Davie

Former Hawkes Bluff HOA Board Member -10 years

53 year resident of Broward County

18 year resident of Davie


Posted November 3, 2007

Neighbors,

As you know we are developing scenarios as are a lot of parents. Scenarios can include a lot of options; however NONE of the scenarios is official until voted on by the School Board. The FIRST scenarios need to be at the School Board by Nov. 8th at noon. We can see them on Nov 12, and then a community forum will be held Nov 17th at McArthur High.  After this we can fine tune or develop other scenarios, as can everyone else and those need to be in Nov. 27th, then more forums, etc….  The Boundary Department will also develop what they want. The School Board votes sometime in March. Before then we should know where MMM is being built, so all this may be for naught, but it is the process.

All these timelines are on the website: www.browardschools.com Go to Departments- Then School Boundaries, then School Board workshop, and then click on Timeline (New).

In addition, all the TAZ zones, and student counts are on the website.

We are certain there will be many scenarios and some will probably exclude all of SW Ranches and Ivanhoe from attending Cypress Bay.

If you want more information, the website has a load of data and instructions on how to do this drawing of a boundary... We have two scenarios we think work, but if you have ideas, let us know or draw up one for your needs.

John Pickett


 

Posted October 28, 2007

Dear Ivanhoe residents and those attending the first Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting:

As you might know, Cypress Bay High School is now included as a part of the upcoming boundary discussions and will have a boundary change for the NEXT school year, 2008-09. There is a core group of Ivanhoe, Cooper City, Pembroke Pines and SW Ranches residents/parents who will discussing and drawing up boundary scenario’s. This is specifically to discuss the boundaries for LLL high school in Pembroke Pines at US 27 and Johnson Street (just north of Pines Blvd) and Cypress Bay’s Capacity issues. These scenarios will be submitted to the school board for discussion and consideration. We need to confirm and know what your wishes are regarding this subject and this is an ASAP request.

PLEASE REMEMBER… usually (not always) Boundary changes are PERMENANT and this next decision by the School Board could be “forever”. This decision will affect SW Ranches, Davie, Ivanhoe, parts of Pembroke Pines and Weston parents and children, not only for NOW, but in the future. We all have personal wishes, but we need to remember, this change will affect future parents and children as well.

If your neighbors would like to also participate, please forward this e-mail to them, please do so… we are looking to gain more information regarding what our parents and residents preferences are:

IF MMM high school was to be built closer to our area, would you prefer to attend this newly built high school within a couple of years?

Do you wish to attend Cypress Bay High in the future?

Do you wish to attend only LLL?

Would you like to be officially boundered to Cypress Bay, but have the “choice” to attend LLL?

Do you have other ideas?

 

Let us know also:

Þ      Do you have children and are they attending what school and what grade are they in?

Þ      Let us know where you live, give us your neighborhood (I.E. [HOA] -Waterford, Falcon Lea, Stirling Lakes Estates, East SW Ranches, West SW Ranches, Hawkes Bluff, etc…)

 

Give us your opinion.

Give us your opinion NOW.

Do NOT wait as your opinion is important

We don’t need a stinking petition, as this is NOT a political show

Just simply respond to this e-mail, without copying the entire list and write a short statement of your wishes as a parent or resident. We have found many people’s opinions being taken out of context and false rumors being generated from e-mail discussions, so we will not use your name, information or distribute your e-mail.

If you are interested in being involved in developing boundary scenario’s for high school LLL and wish to be informed of recent developments, please respond to this e-mail or leave me a message on the cellular phone # below. Give us your name, contact info and best times for a meeting.

Let us know if you wish to no longer receive these e-mails regarding school issues as well.

Thanks.

John Pickett

954-296-7800


Posted October 29, 2007

Dear Ivanhoe Civic Association Members,

 
Thank you all so much for attending the first Official Ivanhoe Civic Association Meeting held on Tuesday October 16, 2007 at the Rick Case Honda Community meeting Room.  We are happy you all could attend.  Thanks to John Pickett for arranging and hosting the meeting that discussed the School Boundaries for our area, mainly concentrating on Cypress Bay High School.  Thanks also to some of the members present that gave us some real insight as to how things work regarding School Boundary Issues.  I know I personally came out of the meeting much more enlightened and informed regarding the High Schools Issues (New High Schools Proposed, Boundaries, Capping, ect..). 
 
We will try to have these meetings scheduled for every couple of months or when an extremely important issue (School Boundaries, I-75 Sound Wall, ect..) needs to be discussed.  We discussed possibly having The Town of Davie Police Department speak at our next meeting regarding Neighborhood Crime Watch, Security, Community Crime Statistics, and how to protect our homes and families better.  In the meantime, please visit our website @ www.ivanhoecivicassociation.com for community information and late breaking news.  Please forward any important information to me and I will distribute it to all Ivanhoe Civic Association Members as well as my Ivanhoe Community Distribution List.  Thanks again all for attending
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate
Office (954) 389-1000 x322
Cell (954) 593-9371
Fax (954) 680-2386
 

Posted October 29, 2007
 
From: Beverly A. Gallagher [mailto:bgallagher@browardschools.com]
Sent: Sunday, October 21, 2007 9:45 PM
Subject: What's New in District 2
 
What's New in District 2
 
Keeping you - well informed.
 
October 2007
 
Welcome Dr. Joel Herbst, our new South Area Superintendent.
 
For those of you new to my newsletter, I send them out periodically
throughout the year. Please feel free to forward it to your email lists,
friends and family.  Principals - please distribute it as you see fit.  If
you are receiving this more than once or if you would like to be added to
my mailing list - lease let me know.
Remember - knowledge is power, but, only when it's shared.
 
My name is Beverly Gallagher and I am the School Board Member representing
District 2.  District 2 includes all of Miramar, Pembroke Pines, SW
Ranches, the eastern most part of Cooper City and the Ivanhoe section of
Davie. There are nine School Board Members in all. Seven represent
districts and two represent the total county.
 
There have been some changes in process and procedures throughout the
district.  The Board and Superintendent are trying to update and improve
policies and procedures.  I appreciate your patience as we all go through
the "renovation" process.
 
Energy Conservation - being a member of the district's Energy Conservation
Committee, I am happy to report that in the first quarter of 2007 the
district saved approximately $1.2 million in energy savings from last year.
 
Taxes and budgets - School districts in Florida operate with two separate
budgets.  The Operating budget is funded through the state of Florida and
comes to the district in a per student allocation.  This tax money is from
property and other taxes that are collected and sent to the state.  The
legislature decides what that tax rate will be.  Broward is what we call a
"donor" county.  More tax dollars are collected in Broward and sent to the
state than we get back.  Last year Broward was funded 66th out of 67
counties in per student funding.  Operating dollars can only be spent on
salaries, books, the day to day operating of the schools.
 
The Capital budget is funded by a combination of state and local funds,
too.  Some capital funds come from the state, but, most of the Capital
budget comes from our property taxes.  Public Education Capital Outlay
(PECO), extra class size reduction money, etc.comes from the state.  The
bulk of the capital dollars are used for construction, renovation and
maintenance of the facilities.  This money can't be spent on Operating
expenses. Although the legislature did just relax a small percentage of
the Capital Fund to be used for Operating expenses.
 
While the legislature did not require school districts to lower the tax
rates, (actually the legislature raised the required local effort for
property taxes), as they did for cities and the county, the state has
required school districts to make cuts to their Operating budgets for this
school year.  Statewide tax collections are down causing the legislature
to rethink the budget for 2007 - 2008.  A Special Legislative Session was
held in Tallahassee last week to make the cuts to the budget. So far the
cuts that have been requested by the Governor and legislature have equaled
about $26 million in Broward. With these looming budget cuts, the School
Board must be diligent and extra stringent with expenditures.  Even with
the cuts, the Board was able to give our employees a 5.59% raise.  This is
followed by a 6.5% raise last year.
 
The Special Session also addressed PIP Insurance.  This insurance will be
reinstated on Jan. 1, 2008.
 
Another Special Session is being held to address the Jan. 29, 2008 Tax
Referendum language. So far the Governor's language cuts property taxes
and holds education harmless. Please contact your legislators to continue
to hold education harmless or to find another way to fund education.
Florida is already somewhere between 42nd and 47th out of 50 states in per
pupil funding.  Our children and teachers can't afford another cut.
 
I am very privileged to have been selected to be the Legislative
Chairperson for the Florida School Board Association.  The good news for
us is that I will have up to the minute legislative news.
 
Strategic plan  - in August the School Board established 6 new goals for
the county that will turn into the new Strategic plan for the district.
Over the next few weeks, districtwide meetings will be held to collect
public input on the goals.  The public input will be turned into a
strategic plan that will be a true plan for the future based on your
thoughts and ideas.  The south area meeting will be Nov. 15, 7pm - 9pm at
McArthur High School.
 
One of the goals is parent, community and business engagement.  We need
your ideas on how to strengthen the parent and community engagement with
our schools. Some of the ideas I have already heard include using internet
live streaming and conference calling for PTA and Advisory meetings so
that busy parents can attend meetings from their homes or businesses.
With a wireless connection, you could participate from the ballfield.
Quite an innovation.  Our ESE Advisory is already utilizing this
technology for their meetings.  Businesses have also been asked to give
employees time off to be able to attend teacher conferences and school
events.  Please check with your employer to see if they would be willing
to participate.
 
Graduation Rates - one of the most disturbing statistics coming from
Florida and Broward County are the graduation rates.  Last year when the
Board found out that some schools were using "contracts" to encourage at
risk or low scoring students to drop out or change schools, the
Superintendent  stopped the use of these "contracts" and put together a
staff working group to investigate these contracts, the drop out rates and
to see how the district could identify at risk students earlier.  Many
procedures have been put in place to identify and reach out to students
that are at risk of dropping out.  Students should not be forced to sign
contracts that lead to dropping out, that is unconscionable.
 
Since the Broward Schools Graduation Rate is truly a community issue, I am
also in the process of creating a policy that will establish a Graduation
Rate Task Force.  This task force will be made up of people from all over
the community similar to the Diversity Committee. The charge of the Task
Force will be to establish communitywide initiatives that will work to
increase the graduation rate in Broward County schools. If you have any
ideas that would help to make this a success, any assistance will be
greatly appreciated. The first meeting will be in the next few weeks.
 
Uniform Policy - proposed changes to the uniform policy will be discussed
at upcoming Advisory meetings at your schools or you can view the changes
at browardschools.com. Please keep informed.  If the Uniform policy is
working well at your school the way it is, the Board needs to know.
 
Policy changes -  I know it is often hard to keep up with the many changes
to the Code of Conduct, Attendance policy, Service Learning hours, etc.
For up to date changes, please go to browardschools.com for the latest
news.
 
FCAT news - the Board has asked the Superintendent to allow our teachers
to go back to creative teaching without so much concentration on "teaching
to the FCAT."  There is more to learn in life than how to take the FCAT
and we all know it.
 
Wellness - you should be noticing in school an increased emphasis on
health,fitness and nutrition.  Our children's education needs to be
well-rounded.
 
Charter Schools - Charter schools are public schools run by private or
public entities, not the school district.  Charter schools are funded with
the same per pupil dollar amount as all public schools.  Charter schools
also receive PECO and other capital dollars from the state.  Capital
dollars, funded from property taxes, have not been shared by school
districts with charter schools in the past.  A few years ago the
legislature changed the law stating that School Districts may give Capital
dollars to charter schools.  Capital dollars are not spent per student
like operating funds.  Capital dollars are spent where they are needed,
similar to the way cities allocate our tax dollars.  City tax dollars are
not allocated per citizen.  This is a very critical issue that truly is
bigger than Broward County.  The whole state is watching us to see how we
proceed with the allocation of capital dollars to charter schools.
 
At the Tuesday, October 16 School Board Meeting, I proposed that the
district form a new and improved Charter School Task Force to help with
writing this policy and working out any other issues between charter
schools and the school district. A similar task force was very successful
during the startup years of charters.  Pembroke Pines and Coral Springs
schools are designated as Municipal Charters.  This is a unique
designation that classifies them somewhat differently, but, there are
still over 50 charter schools in Broward County that need to be included
in these discussions.
 
***** The unique designation of being a Municipal Charter district is the
reason why Pembroke Pines was recently refunded fees by the school
district.  I agreed with Pembroke Pines that the district made a mistake
in calculating the fees according to the municipal designation and the
overage was returned.  This is a separate issue that doesn't have anything
to do with the capital dollars.
 
Capacity Conferences -  schools that have been designated "critically
overcrowded" have been holding capacity conferences to look at contingency
plans to deal with overcrowding.  The good news is that the number of
overcrowded schools is decreasing. If your school is not overcrowded, you
did not have these meetings.  The Board will discuss all of these plans
and options to deal with overcrowding at a workshop on October 23.
 
The boundary process has changed.  There will not be boundary meetings
held at individual schools to draw maps.  Anyone may draw a boundary and
submit it for consideration.  Please let me know if you need more
information.  Remember we are just at the beginning of this process.
 
*****I have been receiving a lot of input from many people and communities
concerning the proposed boundaries.  Please email or call my office to let
me know which schools you would like to see your neighborhood attend.
This is your chance to ask for the changes you have been talking about for
years or to keep your neighborhood status quo.
I need to hear from you!  Not the rumor mill.
 
There are also rumors that a school will lose classes and programs if it
is not critically overcrowded.  Please take a look at Cooper City HS.  It
has all of the same programs, AP and honors classes as any other school
and it is not overcrowded.
 
Also, LLL will have all of the same programs, classes and opportunities
that other high schools have.  It will have honors, AP, electives, clubs,
sports, bands and cheerleaders.  The only difference will be that LLL will
open without a senior class.  Seniors will be able to finish at the same
school they attended in 11th grade.
 
****Please know that these same rumors were circulated when Everglades HS
was opened.  Ask someone you know from Everglades and see if they have
lost any advantages in programming.
 
As we proceed through the boundary process for LLL, please know that there
are many options available including phasing in grades, choice areas, etc.
 
 
LLL ????? High School -Focus meetings are being held to pick a name,
colors and mascot for the new school.  Information concerning the times
and locations of these meetings will be sent home via phone and paper
notices.  Please call the South Area Office for more information.
754-321-3625.
 
MMM HS - this is a new school to relieve Cypress Bay HS.  Finding a
location to build this school has been quite a challenge.  The good news
is that since this is a "buyers market," the district should be able to
negotiate a very good price for the land.  With dropping land and
construction prices, the district has the opportunity to get the best deal
possible.
 
Unfortunately, because it may take 3 - 5 years to build MMM, Cypress Bay
will continue to be  overcrowded and in danger of not meeting the class
size mandate.  Last Tuesday, the Board voted to cap enrollment for the
rest of the year.  On Tuesday, other considerations will be discussed
including alternative scheduling, responsible boundary changes and the
possible construction of a 36 classroom addition at Western HS.
 
Construction News
 
Good news!!!!  The school district had approximately $700 million in
construction and renovation projects last year.  More than 1/2 of that
amount was allocated to the south area!!!!  It's nice to see all of the
new construction, the portables finally being removed and renovations
being done after all these years!
 
Thank you to Mr. Garretson and our fantastic Facilities Department for the
great work that they do!
 
LLL HS -  construction is still ahead of schedule.  Thank you Pirtle
Construction Co!
 
 
Everglades HS -  RUMOR CONTROL!!!!!!!  Everglades HS HAS a CO.
(certificate of occupancy) It was issued in May.  On October 16, the Board
approved an agreement that will end the litigation with the construction
company.
 
Cooper City HS -  the classroom addition is complete.  Thank you Stiles
Corp!
The contractor will be chosen in the next few weeks to start renovations.
CCHS will be going through a total phased replacement and demolition
project.
 
Miramar HS -  the classroom addition is complete.  Thank you Turner
Construction!
Reroofing and the new facade projects are almost finished.  A master plan
for drainage is in progress. The stadium is also being renovated.  Monthly
construction meetings will now be scheduled to keep up with all of the
work being done.
 
Pines MS - move in weekend for the new school is October 26 - 28.  Thank
you Cummings Construction Co!  The rest of the project will then continue
in November.
 
Cooper City El - the new cafeteria is complete.  New playground equipment
is being installed and the reroofing will begin in a few months.
 
Dolphin Bay El - RUMOR CONTROL!!!!!!!  The school was not built backwards.
During the design phase of Dolphin Bay, the district met with homeowners
and the city to work out a way to help ease the future traffic that the
school would bring to the community.  The outcome is the extended driveway
and parking lot to the south of the school.  Since the opening of the
school, homeowners have commented on how the design has helped with the
traffic.  The single point of entry is on the north side of the school.
If visitors park to the south, they will have to walk around to the other
side to enter.  Dolphin Bay is the same design as the majority of
elementary schools in our area.  If you park on the opposite side of the
single point of entry, you will have to walk around to get in the other
door.  Single point of entry is an important safety feature and worth the
effort.
 
Hawkes Bluff El - a Landscape Architect will be hired to renovate the
grounds.  With the new paint , new playground equipment and new
landscaping, Hawkes Bluff will look like a new school!
 
New classroom additions were awarded on October 16 for construction at
Pines Lakes El,  Sunshine El and Sunset Lakes El.
 
There are more projects going on all over the district.  A complete
construction update will be in the next newsletter.  The website is being
renovated so that you can follow the up-to-date progress on your projects.
  I'll let you know when the website is ready.
 
As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to
call or email.  Thank you, thank you to my wonderful Assistant, Linda for
being there for all of us.
 
Thank you all for helping to make our schools the best!
 
Have a safe and happy Halloween!
 
Beverly Gallagher
Board Chair
School Board Member
District 2
Broward County Schools
600 SE 3rd Avenue
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33301
phone 754-321-2002

 

Posted October 16, 2007

From: Ken Cimetta [mailto:info@keepusrural.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:58 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: conflicting stories

There seems to be some conflicting stories out there about where we wish to go for High School.

We need to e-mail the entire School board and let them know how we feel.  Keep it short and simple.  If you wish to remain at Cypress Bay say so.  If you wish to go to Cooper City let them know.  If you wish to move to "LLL" tell them. 
.

Please don't allow others to do the speaking for you.  The board members DO READ their e-mail! 

Simply send a letter to the website www.browardschools.com and go to

School board, then where it says e.mail the board. 

We need them to receive this before the October 23rd meeting.

Call Melissa Gleissner if you have questions. (954)434-0172

 Melissa Gleissner


 

Posted October 16, 2007

Below is scheduled meetings of the Broward County Public Schools. Right below the meetings are the email addresses of the different school board members. If you want them to hear what you have to say, please email them as soon as possible, before the Oct. 23 meeting especially.  Their direct address is also listed below as well as their phone number.


 

Posted October 16, 2007

From: Ken Cimetta [mailto:info@keepusrural.com]
Sent: Tuesday, October 16, 2007 5:58 PM
To: undisclosed-recipients:
Subject: conflicting stories

There seems to be some conflicting stories out there about where we wish to go for High School.

We need to e-mail the entire School board and let them know how we feel.  Keep it short and simple.  If you wish to remain at Cypress Bay say so.  If you wish to go to Cooper City let them know.  If you wish to move to "LLL" tell them. 
.

Please don't allow others to do the speaking for you.  The board members DO READ their e-mail! 

Simply send a letter to the website www.browardschools.com and go to

School board, then where it says e.mail the board. 

We need them to receive this before the October 23rd meeting.

Call Melissa Gleissner if you have questions. (954)434-0172

 Melissa Gleissner

Check for the Latest Stories & Comments.

Contact Us With Your Concerns.


If you know anyone who would like to be added
to our mailing list, e-mail us at info@KeepUsRural.com

 


Posted October 30, 2007

Dear Ivanhoe Residents and Friends,
 
Below please find a link from the Broward's Sheriff's Office with some helpful tips about keeping your children safe during Halloween.
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Crime Watch Chairman)

www.LiveBroward.com

Public Service Message from Live Broward

Halloween Safety tips from BSO

BSO Public Service announcement

The Broward Sheriff's Office knows that Halloween is a child's night for trick or treating, ghosts and goblins, haunts and horrors. Unfortunately, some of these horrors are all too real. Every year on Halloween, children may be hurt due to auto accidents, fire injuries, falls, cuts, bruises, or other mishaps. The following is a list of Halloween safety tips to make this night safe and happy for everyone: 

954-920-9009

_______________________________________

 


 

Posted October 16, 2007

Ellen, Melissa and Al,

As guests attending and participating in this evening’s First Inaugural Ivanhoe Civic Association you were OUTSTANDING!!!!!

The founding members and I wish to thank you for helping us understand better the process and procedures concerning how a school handles capacity issues.

Your expertise was well received and we appreciate your ongoing assistance. WE had great news tonight and we look forward to a successful future regarding our school situations. Education is the heartbeat of most communities along with civic contributors, such as the three of you.

We will keep you on our e-mail distribution lists and we again thank you for your ongoing support of our community in general.

John Pickett

Ivanhoe Civic Association


Posted October 12, 2007

Attention:

All IVANHOE Residents

Did you know that beginning in 2008 there is a POSSIBILITY your child currently attending or slated to eventually attend Cypress Bay High School could be sent to “LLL High” in Pembroke Pines or to Western High in Davie for next year 2008? Did you know there could be Split sessions or Enrollment capping? Find out more… THIS TUESDAY

Ivanhoe Civic Association meeting:

October 16, Tuesday, 7pm at Rick Case Honda Community Center (second floor of showroom)

If you do not attend, you could be uninformed!!!!


Posted October 11, 2007

The first inaugural meeting of the Ivanhoe Civic Association will meet on October 16, 2007at 7:00 pm at Rick Case Honda on the second floor of the community room. The agenda will be the Cypress Bay High School Capacity issue and an update on the Sound Wall. see flyer


Posted October 13, 2007

-----Original Message-----
From: Lewis, Lynn [mailto:Lynn.Lewis@dot.state.fl.us]On Behalf Of OReilly, Gerry
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2007 10:15 AM
To: jjpickett@bellsouth.net
Cc: NEU55@aol.com; Bryan_Caletka@davie-fl.gov; CMendola@aol.com; CompuMo@aol.com; gary_shimun@davie-fl.gov; GHF@FOWLER-WHITE.COM; gtorreslaw@bellsouth.net; ilieberman@broward.org; LWEXLER@broward.org; mike_crowley@davie-fl.gov; Plewbjr@aol.com; rgiordan@bellsouth.net; rich.nan.web@flsenate.gov; sritter@broward.org; crsavy@bellsouth.net; Tom_Truex@davie-fl.gov; wendyg071216@msn.com; susan_starkey@davie-fl.gov; dmeccles@bellsouth.net; Youse, Olivia
Subject: RE: Articles on trees, noise-historical facts on I-75
 

Mr. Pickett,

We have received and reviewed numerous e-mails and letters from the Ivanhoe residents and would like to reassure you that the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) understands your situation. We are acutely aware that the Ivanhoe developments are impacted by noise from I-75. Unfortunately, the community does not currently qualify for noise abatement under federal or state law. This is due to the fact that the homes in the Ivanhoe developments were built after the federal approvals for Interstate 75. The five main points of contention from the community are: 1. Legal requirements for noise abatement; 2. Air Quality; 3. Safety; 4. Vegetation; and 5. Funding.  All of these points are addressed below:  

Legal Requirements: The federal laws as well as the Florida Statutes, Policies, Reports, Methods and Specifications are all referenced in the FDOT Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Manual Volume 2, Chapter 17, at http://www.dot.state.fl.us/emo/pubs/pdeman/pdeman.htm. Since this area did not qualify for a Type 1 wall (for new construction), then it would fall under the Type II regulations (commonly known as a retrofit). These can be found in Title 23 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 772.13(b). This community also does not meet the requirements in the CFR for the Type II program. Additionally, the State of Florida does not currently have a Type II program. To change the requirements under the federal law will require an act of the U.S. Congress. The State of Florida has adopted 23 CFR 772 under the provisions of Florida Statute 335.17.

Air Quality:  Information on air quality can be found at the Broward County Air Quality Division website at www.broward.org/air. Broward County monitors air quality 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Broward County as well as the State of Florida is an attainment area for air quality, which means that Florida has better air quality levels than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards adopted by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The website shows that for 2007 the County has had 87% "Good Air Quality" (the highest rating) with only 1.47% "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups". The County recorded zero (0) days of "Unhealthy", "Very Unhealthy", or "Hazardous" air quality for 2005, 2006 and 2007 to date. This is based on the EPA's national Air Quality Index (AQI) which considers ozone, fine particulate matter and carbon monoxide. The Department does not mitigate air quality with noise walls.

Safety:  If the Department identifies a safety concern such as a roadside hazard, it will investigate guardrail as a protective measure. Additionally, if there is a documented history of vehicles leaving the roadway and entering private property, the Department would also investigate the use of guardrail. The Department does not mitigate roadside hazards or errant vehicles with noise walls.


Vegetation: The vegetation removed from the I-75 corridor in 1995 was in the Department's right of way and owned by the State of Florida. The Melaleuca trees were Type 1, exotic, invasive pest plants that the State of Florida has a policy of removing from public lands. The visual landscape buffer provided by the Department was cleaned out, trimmed and/or replanted after the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005. The landscape buffer is not intended to provide noise abatement.

Funding:  The current PD&E study will be completed in 2011 and the Department would anticipate that some if not most developments along I-75 will meet established criteria for noise abatement. Unfortunately, construction funding is not in the current 10 year Strategic Intermodal System Cost Feasible Plan. Currently, we are aware of three avenues for funding walls outside the normal FDOT/FHWA processes: 1. City, county or neighborhood funding for privacy walls; 2. A state earmark for privacy walls; 3. A federal notwithstanding earmark for noise walls. We also understand that you have been unsuccessful at getting state or federal earmarks in the past. The Department has preliminarily estimated that noise wall cost along I-75 in Broward County will be over $25 million. These costs are based on $50 per square foot installed or $5.8 million per mile, per side.    

As you know, both a Noise Study and Air Quality Analysis will be part of the PD&E study for the I-75 expansion which we anticipate will be completed in 2011. The Department conducted two public workshops on September 18 & 19, 2007. The September 18th, Broward County workshop was attended by many of the Ivanhoe residents. The majority of the Ivanhoe residents had similar concerns about the existing noise and air pollution from I-75. Like you, all of the residents we received comments from want a noise wall now. The Department will do everything possible to expedite the environmental analysis and federal approval of the PD&E study. I have attached a letter sent to Mr. Walter Bell, Jr. on September 24, 2007 by FDOT District Four at the request of the Governor's Office. This letter addresses all of the same concerns of you and your neighbors. Please feel free to call me if you have other questions or I can be of assistance.

Gerry O'Reilly, P.E.

Director of Transportation Development

Telephone: (954) 777-4411

Email: gerry.oreilly@dot.state.fl.us

(Tracker #07-36323)

 


 

Posted October 6, 2007

Dear Ivanhoe Residents & Friends,
 
I was awaken at 4:45 A.M. this morning by the Town of Davie Police Department informing me that my car had been burglarized.  Even though I am normally a fanatic about locking my vehicle, for some reason I did not lock it and it was burglarized during the night (crime of opportunity!).  Apparently, there was a rash of car burglaries in the neighborhood last night where they were only burglarizing unlocked vehicles and apparently there were quite a few of them.  Once again, The Town of Davie Police Department was "Johnny on the Spot" and responding to leads they had apprehended the criminals and had them in custody.  Kudos to the Town of Davie Police Department once again for catching the suspects in the act.  Please check your vehicles to see if you have anything missing and call The Town of Davie Police Department at (954) 693-8200 if you do. The case number is 57367 and Officer Burns is handling the investigation.  The criminals were caught taking money, change, car chargers, i-pods, cell phones, and anything small of value that could be carried away easily.  Apparently, they did not like classic rock-n-roll because my Deep Purple, ZZ Top, & Bad Company tapes were left untouched. 
 
This is another reminder to us to keep our vehicles locked at all times.  You will not catch me making that same mistake twice.  Let's not make it easy for the bad guys!
 
Thanks again to Chief John George and his Town of Davie Police Officers for another job well done!
 
Best Regards,
 
Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate (Hawkes Bluff of Ivanhoe Crime Watch Co-ordinator)
Office (954) 389-1000 x322
Cell (954) 593-9371
Fax (954) 680-2386
 

From: Lou & Missy G [mailto:loumissy954@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, October 06, 2007 10:37 AM
To: John Pickett
Subject: RE: Cypress Bay High School

 

Hello John,

I don't believe the board is leaning toward a boundary change at this time, in spite of some parents push for one.  There is a schoolboard workshop on "MMM" Tuesday at Silver Trail.

I can let you know more after the meeting. 

Thanks,

Melissa
 


 

What happened at the meeting is that boundary changes, capping, portables and 4:1 may/willl be considered this year for next year’s school year when we address the school capacity issues. What we were attempting to do was take re-boundering off the agenda, so the voters in Weston could NOT kick our kids out. We now have to go to the next step, which is fighting again this year. We have to convince the school board and demographers we would be damaged by being forced to attend LLL (out on US 27 near Pines Blvd for the 2008-09 school years.

Maybe Melissa can give us a better explanation, so I am copying her. Melissa?

John.  


From: Robert Giordano [mailto:rgiordan@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 10:10 AM
To: elc512@aol.com
Cc: John Pickett (E-mail)
Subject: RE: Cypress Bay High School

Dear EAC,

I'm not sure what the final answer is.  I believe it is still in consideration.

Best Regards,

Robert Giordano - Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate

Office (954) 389-1000 x322

Cell (954) 593-9371

Fax (954) 680-2386

-----Original Message-----
From: elc512@aol.com [mailto:elc512@aol.com]
Sent: Friday, October 05, 2007 7:37 AM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Subject: Re: Cypress Bay High School

Robert,

 

When is this rezoning suppossed to happen? Is it for sure or still in consideration?

 

regards

EAC


-----Original Message-----
From: Robert Giordano <rgiordan@bellsouth.net>
To: Robert Giordano (E-mail) <rgiordan@bellsouth.net>
Sent: Mon, 24 Sep 2007 2:09 am
Subject: FW: Cypress Bay High School

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Amore Scheepers [mailto:Amore.Scheepers@comcast.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 6:46 PM
To: rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Cc: 'Nancy Juin'; loumissy954@yahoo.com
Subject: Cypress Bay High School

Hi Robert

 

I spoke to you briefly about the school boundaries when we had the sound wall meeting at the community center

 

I know you and John Pickett has express your which that we will remain part of the cypress bay school zone.  It seem that the school zone issues are reaching a critical point.  (Please read e-mail below)

 

Could you please send out an email to your email list and ask the parents to show up to the meeting

 


TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
CYPRESS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
7 PM in the Auditorium at the Main Campus

 

We need the votes.

 

If you like to get the latest info on what is happening with the school zone meetings you can contact Melissa G  .  She is the SAF/SAC chair for Hawkes Bluff

(954)434 0172

Melissa told me that John is also aware of what is happening with the boundary issues.

 

 

 

 

You can also email Nancy Juin – Hawkes Bluff PTA President

 

 

 

Thank you

 

Amore

 

From: Nancy Juin [mailto:nancyjuin@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 12:28 PM
To:
Subject: Need your support!!!!

 

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It is urgent for Hawkes Bluff parents to show up at this meeting and show your support!  If we don’t, there is a strong possibility that our children will end up at LLL High School to be built south of us on SR27 and Pines  Blvd.  If that is where you want your children to attend High School then, this message doesn’t pertain to you.  However if you DO NOT want your children to go there and would prefer that they attend  Cypress Bay in Weston, which is slated to be relieved by MMM High School to be built in the future, then your support is GREATLY needed ASAP!

 

These discussions have been going on for quite awhile and people have been fighting on our behalf but, votes are being taken and they are now in desperate need of our help!  Hawkes Bluff parents MUST attend this meeting in order to show our support otherwise the people who have put in endless hours at previous meetings will feel like all their time was wasted! If we don’t show our support now, we could be thrown into a boundary process that will be even a bigger battle!

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!  Pass along this message to anyone that you know who can come out and support this issue!!!!!!

DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE THAT WILL IMPACT OUR CHILDREN.  
Please bring friends, aunts & uncles, and grandparents to have a vote.  Yes, there will be a vote.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
CYPRESS BAY HIGH SCHOOL
7 PM in the Auditorium at the Main Campus

 

 

Posted Oct.1, 2007

Dear Mayor Truex,

It was an honor that you have personally taken the time and interest to attend not only our Meeting regarding I-75, but to attend for the entire duration of the FDOT I-75 PD&E kick off meeting on September 18th. The Town of Davie was well represented.

The time you took to speak with a majority of our residents present at both meetings, hear their stories and respond as you did was fantastic. I witnessed first hand and was truly impressed with the direct questioning and the support you gave the entire Ivanhoe Community while speaking with the FDOT representatives during this meeting regarding our need for sound walls. This shows you have an keen insight and full understand what our area has endured since 1995 and that you have the dedication to see through on a solution. As we discussed, we know it is a long haul to make change in the system and constant pressure is needed.

I know you are busy, as Mayor of Davie, being a family person and having a business to run… I just wanted you to know the appreciation we all have of your efforts. Please let us know if you need anything, as I know the vast majority of our residents appreciate what you do for all of the Davie stakeholders day in and day out...

Always the best,

John J. Pickett

Hawkes Bluff

15600 S. Roundtable Road

Davie, Florida 33331

954-296-7800

 


Posted Oct.2, 2007

Yes, I also know you are keeping an eye on the I-595 expansion with the FDOT and specifically for our town, thank you for being one of the few towns to actually reduce taxes this year, in accordance with the state guidelines set forth by Governor Crist.  We are very proud of you!

Gisela Nanson Torres, Esq.

Gisela Nanson Torres, P.A.

15327 N.W. 60th Avenue, Suite 215

Miami Lakes, Florida 33014

Phone (305) 698-0926

Fax (305) 698-0928


 

Dear Mayor Truex,

We sincerely appreciate your time, efforts, and dedication to the residents of Davie and especially the issues that are relevant to our community, Ivanhoe. Thank you for hearing and seeing to our needs.

Mr. and Mrs. Ray Eccles

5520 Hawkes Bluff Ave

Davie Fl 33331

954-689-4437


 

From: Judy Paul [mailto:jpaulconsulting@msn.com]
Sent: Friday, September 28, 2007 10:10 AM
To: Rayder, Ian
Cc: Neu55@aol.com; jjpickett@bellsouth.net; rgiordan@bellsouth.net
Subject: Help for Davie

 

Hi Ian,

How have you been?  I am contacting you to ask you keep Rep Wasserman-Schultz up to date on recent developments within the Ivanhoe community regarding the sound walls.  I know on past visits to DC we discussed this and nothing has ever been resolved. There is a new movement, stronger than ever from the residents of Ivanhoe to find a solution to the detrimental impact that I 75 is having, and has had for over 12 years, on their community.   I will be forwarding  a series of emails to you and I hope to hear from you with your recommendation on how we should move forward with this issue, including a visit to the Congresswoman either in Washington or  maybe when she is back in town.  I imagine we would need a fair amount of time and your assistance in finding out the answers to residents questions.   Thank you for your time.

Judy Paul, former Councilmember, Dist 4, Davie

14421 SW 24th St

Davie, 33325  954-476-2515

 Judy Paul
Think Green
Preserve our precious natural resources

From: "Rayder, Ian" <Ian.Rayder@mail.house.gov>
To: "Judy Paul" <jpaulconsulting@msn.com>
CC: <Neu55@aol.com>, <jjpickett@bellsouth.net>, <rgiordan@bellsouth.net>, "Davidson, Jodi" <Jodi.Davidson@mail.house.gov>
Subject: RE: Help for Davie
Date: Mon, 1 Oct 2007 11:57:22 -0400

Judy – I have contacted the Florida Department of Transportation for an update on this issue and will get back in touch as soon as I can get a full report from them. Once I have an understanding of what our limitation are, we can come up with a strategy to deal with this problem.

Ian Rayder
-----------------
Senior Legislative Assistant / Appropriations Associate
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, FL-20
118 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C., 20515
Phone: 202.225.7931
Fax: 202.226.2052
ian.rayder@mail.house.gov


From: Judy Paul [mailto:jpaulconsulting@msn.com]
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 1:29 PM
To: Rayder, Ian
Cc: rgiordan@bellsouth.net; Neu55@aol.com; jjpickett@bellsouth.net
Subject: RE: Help for Davie

 

Ian,

Thanks so much for your speedy reply.  I hope we can resolve this issue by going in a new and more creative way that will allow FDOT to make some very needed adjustments to the corridor.  Perhaps the answer is adjustments to the federal criteria which the state claims they are following.  I look forward to hearing from you.

Judy

Judy Paul
Think Green
Preserve our precious natural resources

No problem, Judy. By the way, it should not be necessary for you to fly up here to meet with the Congresswoman. We could probably arrange that for our District Office.

Ian Rayder
-----------------
Senior Legislative Assistant / Appropriations Associate
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, FL-20
118 Cannon House Office Building
Washington D.C., 20515
Phone: 202.225.7931
Fax: 202.226.2052
ian.rayder@mail.house.gov


 

Posted Sept. 29, 2007

-----Original Message-----
From: John Pickett [mailto:jjpickett@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Saturday, September 29, 2007 9:45 AM
To: 'Robert Giordano (E-mail)'
Subject: Please distribute to your list Robert
Importance: High

 
Dear neighbors,

Below, you MUST bookmark this site. It is our Ivanhoe “Civic Association” site. Val O’Connor began this site and it literally can connect us all in one place. We can announce meetings, hang out and speak up! There are areas of interest and lot’s of informative news. The I-75 sound walls, a variety of correspondence, etc…

CLICK BELOW and take a peek…