Broward school board's lone conservative member resigns, cites ‘toxic environment'
Fam, an attorney, announced her resignation Tuesday in an explosive letter to Superintendant Howard Hepburn in which Fam lambasted what she called a 'toxic environment' within the district.
'I cannot, with a good conscience, serve a school district that lacks full transparency, that does not live up to the highest moral and educational standards for students, parents and educators, nor live up to their fiscal responsibilities,' Fam wrote in the letter. 'It is time for me to move forward to where my contribution is welcomed, and my background and knowledge can bring about an effective and positive change.'
A school district spokesperson sent the Herald a statement saying 'Dr. Hepburn thanked her for her service and wished her well' when she submitted her resignation letter. Fam was seen speaking with Hepburn at today's school board workshop meeting.
The resignation is the latest plot twist for the Broward school district, which has seen years of politically-charged turmoil, superintendent turnovers, financial woes and declining student enrollment. Gov. Ron DeSantis will have the opportunity to appoint a new board member to fill the vacancy.
Fam was elected in 2022, defeating Steve Julian for the District 6 seat, which represents Cooper City, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise and Weston. Along with DeSantis appointees Torey Alston and Daniel Foganholi, Fam was part of a conservative voting bloc that sparred with Democratic board members on charter schools, vouchers and support for LGBTQ students.
That came to an end last November when Alston and Foganholi lost their elections, a reflection of Broward's status as the only firm Democratic stronghold in South Florida. Shortly after Debbi Hixon was sworn in as board chair in November, Fam objected to a code of conduct resolution that would allow the board to censure a member the majority thinks behaved inappropriately.
'I'm the only conservative on this board so it wouldn't take long to get a majority to silence me, and I've already been silenced on several occasions,' Fam said during the Nov. 19 meeting.
Fam clashed with her liberal colleagues over issues like school choice and book bans. Fellow board members criticized her for actions they say were inappropriate, like offering legal help to parents who want private school vouchers, the Sun Sentinel reported.
In her letter, Fam included excerpts from the April 11 resignation letter of Alec Bogdanoff, who was appointed as the chair of the Superintendent's Oversight Committee Task Force. Bogdanoff complained of a dysfunctional and hostile work environment, writing, 'Rather than working together to address real issues, the task force has been hampered by entrenched resistance, hostility to new perspectives, and a culture that too often rewards control over progress.'
Fam also quoted the following excerpt from Bogdanoff's letter: 'It is deeply disappointing and honestly, sad that instead of focusing our energy on creating more success stories, so much time is spent on infighting, exclusion, and protecting turf.' Fam wrote that she agreed with Bogdanoff and shared a similar experience. She accused fellow board members of 'name calling' and unprofessional behavior.
'I have also encountered the same hostility and personal attacks for trying to improve the school climate and increase inclusivity of parents,' she wrote. 'I also observed that if an individual does not agree with the current district culture of prioritizing social justice over academics, the current recognized quid pro quo, then they are targeted, dismissed, and ridiculed.'
Chief among Fam's concerns was how the district handles its finances, writing that the school district 'always appears to be in financial crisis and begging residents to pick up the tab.'
'My greatest fear is that BCSD will seek a bail-out from residents in 2026 in the form of referendum funds from Broward County residents due to the board's failure to implement a balanced budget and engaging in wasteful overspending,' she wrote. 'I have old school values and was taught that you don't buy what you can't pay for. You don't purchase things that you cannot afford. Most importantly, BCSD should not be continually looking to residents to supplement their budget and to fill financial voids while other surrounding counties are functioning with balanced operational budgets.'
Fam has plans to move and listed her house in Davie for sale, the Sun Sentinel reported.
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