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At its August 12, 2025, regular meeting, The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida, approved Agenda Item H-11, sponsored by School Board Member Roberto J. Alonso, directing the Superintendent to explore the feasibility of partnering with South Florida Autism Charter School (SFACS) to expand their services at the former Country Club Middle School facility.
SFACS is a high-performing M-DCPS-managed charter school that specializes in serving students with autism. The initiative calls for assessing enrollment capacity, programmatic needs, space utilization, required facility upgrades, and opportunities to leverage recent state funding for autism services. If the expansion is determined to be both feasible and appropriate, the proposal would also examine the financial implications for the District, including potential revenue from leasing and management fees.
“Every school building should be a place of learning, growth, and opportunity,” said Board Member Alonso. “This initiative is a great example of listening to our community, identifying a critical need, and building partnerships that help families who often have limited options. By repurposing this facility for education, we can expand access to specialized services for students with autism while keeping these supports close to home.”
The former Country Club Middle School site, now vacant, presents a unique opportunity to ensure unused facilities are put to work meeting educational needs. This effort reflects M-DCPS’s commitment to maximizing its resources, strengthening community partnerships, and improving access to high-quality programs.
Pursuant to Agenda Item H-11, District staff will present findings and recommendations to the School Board at the October 2025 Facilities and Construction Committee Meeting.
