CORAL SPRINGS, FL - In 2014, voters approved $800 million in a bond referendum for Broward County Public Schools to renovate buildings, purchase equipment, and make other long-needed improvements at campuses.

In Coral Springs, 19 high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools are benefiting from the funds that focus on safety, music and art, athletics, renovation, and technology (SMART), according to school officials.

All construction in schools in Coral Springs and across the school district is expected to be completed in 2025, if not sooner.

SIGNUPSCRIPT

Here’s what Eagle Ridge Elementary School in Coral Springs did with $3.7 million from the program.

Before Eagle Ridge Elementary School got a new fire alarm that speaks instead of making noise, many students who have sensory issues had to wear noise-canceling handphones and leave their classrooms.

That included Andrea Fleming’s son.**BULLSEYE

“He had an issue with a load fire alarm. He had to get removed and taken out of the building before it went off. It would disrupt his day,” said Fleming, a substitute teacher at the school where three of her children have attended.

The installation of the new $294,000 fire alarm system, which speaks in Spanish as well, was part of the school’s $3.7 million budget in the SMART program, according to documents.

The 850-student school with 100 staff members, opened in 1996 at 11500 Westview Drive, also got $1.9 million for HVAC upgrades that have kept the air condition system running smoothly through the entire campus, said Lindsey Sierra, the school’s principal who has worked at the school for 21 years.**STANDARD

“It was breaking down all the time and now we have a new AC system that is much more consistent so we don’t have those days when we are waiting for a part or for things to get fixed,” she said.

In addition, $150,000 was spent on new computers, $37,000 went to technology upgrades, and $1 million was set aside for unspecified projects, according to the SMART budget.

Another improvement, Sierra said, was getting $50,000 worth of musical instruments - 32 brass, 229 percussion, 279 woodwind, 65 string, and a piano/keyboard.**BULLSEYE

“Each grade level now gets the opportunity to be introduced to different instruments,” Sierra said. “There’s been much more interaction with the students. Every grade level is exposed to and learns instruments.”

Fleming’s daughter, who is in fourth grade, is learning to play the ukulele.

“She talks about it all the time,” she said. “It’s a different type of instrument to be exposed to.”

Read our coverage of how other Coral Springs schools spent their SMART program funds:

Ramblewood Elementary School

Forest Hills Elementary School

Forest Glen Middle School

Maplewood Elementary School

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