DeSantis calls Broward public schools a ‘disaster,’ suggests receivership

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday excoriated the Broward School District for a “laundry list of failures” and suggested it’s been so impervious to reform that placing it in receivership might be an option to fix it.

“Honestly, it’s been a disaster. Let’s just be honest, it’s been a disaster in many different ways. It is really run more to benefit the entrenched interests, particularly the school unions, rather than the parents and the students,” DeSantis said at a news conference.

DeSantis said the School District is an entity that is impervious to reform efforts, and raised the possibility of drastic action by the state.

“But there’s a handful of spots around the state where, you know, maybe thrusting some of these entities into receivership may be the best way going forward. I think you could work things out pretty quickly, but I tell you it’s tough. It’s been really tough. And when people want to reform, you end up having, running into a brick wall. It’s been very difficult,” DeSantis said.

The governor made his comments in response to a question at a news conference at Broward College in Davie, where he and his appointees appeared to tout what they described as reductions in insurance premiums that would benefit homeowners.

The question ran through a host of controversies and crises involving the School District. DeSantis’ response: “I think you did a good job of the laundry list of failures in the Broward School District.”

And, DeSantis was asked if it was time for the state or some other outside body to take over the School District to fix it.

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