For over a decade Northeast High School in Oakland Park has been the prime example of Broward County’s deteriorating school system.
Leaky, smelly and crumbling. The school that dates from 1962 is perhaps a health hazard to students and staff.
Northeast is in such bad shape that Superintendent Robert Runcie picked it to kick off the 2014 campaign for the passage of $800 million bond referendum.
Runcie promised that the bonds would provide money to fix the school.
Voters approved the bonds.
Students, parents and teachers have waited for the fix.
And waited.
And waited.
The Northeast High community will be waiting a lot longer, they were warned last week.
The news came directly from Leo Bobadilla, the school system’s chief of facilities, and his staff. Appearing at the Oakland Park Commission, he told commissioners not to expect a quick fix.
The school system doesn’t want to rush repairs, Bobadilla said. Repairs are not a race, they are a marathon, he added.
He said this with a straight face.
