MIAMI (WSVN) - Miami-Dade County Public Schools is reviewing a letter from Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran calling for campuses to fully reopen by Oct. 5, quicker than what was agreed upon.
The commissioner’s letter, addressed to the chair of the Miami-Dade County Public School Board and M-DCPS Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, comes days after the board voted to push back reopening campuses.
In Tuesday’s meeting, the administration listened to more than 18 hours of recorded testimony, much of which expressed concerns about going back to in-class learning.
“This has been the most difficult decision that I’ve had to make as a school board member,” said Miami-Dade School Board member Mari Tere Rojas.
The board voted to start with a soft opening on Oct. 14, and then on Oct. 21, all campuses would reopen for parents who wanted to send their students back for face-to-face schooling.
In the letter, Corcoran said he has “grave concerns” about the board’s decision.
The letter goes on to state the delay could be difficult for students with individualized learning plans and harmful for students experiencing violence, abuse and food insecurity in their homes.
“These are urgent circumstances we cannot, and will not, ignore,” Corcoran wrote.
The letter states any exceptions to reopening by Oct. 5 need to be on a school-by-school basis.
Corcoran’s letter ends by giving the district three options:
- follow the approved plan
- submit an amended plan for approval by Oct. 2
- withdraw their plan and proceed with the existing statutory framework
M-DCPS released a statement saying they are reviewing the letter and have scheduled a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss how to move forward.
To read the Florida Department of Education’s reopening plan for Miami-Dade schools, click here.
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