Valerie Wanza is the Broward School District South Area Director for School Improvement. Wanza reports to South Area Superintendent Joel Herbst. In Friday’s Sun-Sentinel, Wanza “credited Murray with bringing millions in funding to Hallandale High School.” Has anyone verified this claim with the folks down at Hallandale High? Did anyone bother to talk to the folks on the School Board’s Diversity Committee?
A Published report says the Diversity Committee,, prompted by parental complaints, sent an inspection team to Hallandale High on December 8, 2010. In it’s report, the committee said, “The site visit team was visibly upset by the facility’s conditions and commented that not much progress has been made in 10 years.”
The Broward Bulldog website published the story on February 28, 2011. The report listed some of the shocking results of the visit:
“In the ESE class, the teacher has a laptop; however, there are no other computers in the classroom. Numerous laptops are in need of repair. Laptop batteries (290) don’t work and the wiring is old and frayed, sometimes shocking staff.”
“The foundation of Building 2 (a portable) is separating from the building.”
“In the main building, stairs are worn and the walls need re-plastering/painting. The elevator is aged. The site visit committee was especially upset about the science labs being insufficient for learning. Gas was not hooked up, cabinets had been taken out, and there are no exhaust fans.”
“In the biology classroom, the eyewash sprayed water everywhere. Safety equipment is ineffective….There is a big prep area in the kitchen, where most equipment seems to be working; however, part of the floor is flooded near the steam kettle.”
But wait, there is more:
the lack tutoring materials;
broken weight room equipment posing a safety hazard;
outdated equipment in the media center;
poor disability access in the gymnasium and auditorium;
broken lockers;
the ceiling falling apart in the boys’ locker room;
a need for new auditorium lighting and sound system;
computers that can’t use new software in the television production classroom;
aging textbooks and dictionaries.
We saved the best for last:
“Members also observed ‘there was a strong odor upon entering the school building.’”
The Broward Bulldog made multiple attempts to reach Superintendent Jim Notter and School Board Member Ann Murray. They did NOT respond.
The fine reporters at WPLG Channel 10 have mentioned, twice, that no one ever checked Ann Murray’s personnel file. Perhaps someone should find out where the “millions” Murray got for Hallandale High School went? Maybe someone should get Ms. Wanza and Mr. Herbst on the phone?
