I appreciate Mary Meillier’s perspective (“The graduation venue is not important,” letter, Jan. 21). I agree that graduation is ultimately about students and what they have earned — not a “fancy venue.” But many Broward families aren’t simply disappointed. We’re raising concerns about equity, accessibility and transparency.
If this were a uniform district-wide decision, applied consistently to every school, most families would accept it as a difficult budget reality. Instead, the current plan appears to create two different standards of graduation across the district: Some schools will celebrate in large, accessible venues, while others are moved to smaller facilities with steep bleachers, limited seating and serious barriers for elderly or disabled guests. This is not a minor inconvenience.
In many cases, the guest tickets per graduate would be reduced from six to four because the new venues can’t safely accommodate the expected crowd. That means students are being forced to exclude grandparents, siblings and other loved ones from a once-in-a-lifetime milestone.
The Class of 2026 has already learned resilience. Their middle school experience was disrupted by COVID, and they have certainly learned to handle disappointment. They can also learn that public institutions should make decisions openly, apply standards fairly, and ensure equal access for all.
Broward parents are not asking for extravagance. We’re asking for a graduation plan that’s accessible and equitable for every student, regardless of which high school they attend.
Kyla Starks, Fort Lauderdale
Big trouble beneath the port
Re: Ten million corals are in the path of Port Everglades dredging project, news article
Avoidance should be the standard for these projects. If it calls for taking corals (what the feds call killing corals), it is unacceptable.
If a project calls for mitigation and artificial reefs, it should not be approved. Destruction of public land below ocean waters is forever. I want to know who specifically pushed for this. Clearly, they need a dose of reality as it relates to the negative impacts of destroying Mother Nature.
Brenda Lee Chalifour, Dania Beach
Of primary importance
If you’re one of those voters who believes that the general election in November chooses the winners, with all the gerrymandering going on, most winners are chosen in primaries. With this new reality, voters who want their voices heard need to vote in the primary — not just the general.
If you’re registered NPA (no party affiliation), you don’t have much to vote for in primaries. But if you bite the bullet and register with a party, you can vote for all of its candidates. If you choose to have an “R” on your voter registration card, you will be picking the winners in most Florida races.
You might think it’s only MAGA people running, but in truth, there are still a lot of moderate Republicans in Florida, and you could help elect moderate people.
Fewer than one-third of those who voted in the 2024 general election showed up for the previous primary, so if you’re one of them, you could help make change by taking just a few extra minutes to participate in the primary.
Mitchell McClure, North Lauderdale
Summon your strength
My mind is abuzz with images of masked ICE agents in Minneapolis pulling people out of cars, kneeling on their backs, smashing car windows and breaking down doors of their homes with battering rams.
They are violently arrested outside churches, workplaces and schools, sprayed with pepper spray, flash bombs, tear gas and rubber bullets. These tactics have escalated after the killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent.
I applaud the people of Minneapolis for their courage, resilience and perseverance. It’s time to gain strength from the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s message of equality and to speak out against injustice. Our children are watching.
Joan Mc Auliffe, Santa Rosa, Calif.
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