Council considers calling feds over cafeteria conditions

The City Council, frustrated that repairs haven't been made to Plantation High School, Wednesday demanded the School Board take immediate action, with one member even threatening to sic government regulators on its namesake school.

In November, Broward voters approved an $800 million bond to renovate and repair decaying schools like Fort Lauderdale's Stranahan High, where portables sit unused and condemned.

An aluminum canopy at Plantation High, planned after school officials decided they couldn't afford to renovate the cafeteria, is more than a year behind schedule. The district has changed the scope of the project, and now the price has doubled to $273,000.

"They had $800 million and all we're getting now is a canopy," complained Mayor Diane Veltri Bendekovic. "The children are [eating] in hallways just to stay out of the weather if it's raining because there isn't enough room in the cafeteria to seat all the students .... We should [not] expect any more or accept any more delays."

Plantation High, built in 1966, has a kitchen in the cafeteria without air conditioning, city officials said. "Presently, kitchen staff is expected to work at times in temperatures reaching and exceeding 100 degrees," according to the city.

The council also complained that the art building has leaks and areas in "deplorable condition [that] should be tested for mold." And some musical equipment dates to 1992.

Councilwoman Lynn Stoner said School Board members are "disrespectful elected officials not communicating with us and not doing what we believe they're supposed to do, which is keep our schools in a repaired manner."