School Board Committee Opposed Banyan Elementary Sale
A committee recommendation suggests keeping the public campus instead of selling it to a nearby private school.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Miami-Dade School Board committee has recommended rejecting an offer from Christopher Columbus High School to purchase or lease the Banyan Elementary School site. The private institution sought the property to build an aquatic center and other facilities.
Why it matters
The proposal affects a campus that currently serves 350 students and was not previously marked by the district for potential closure. The board must now decide whether to move forward with the committee's recommendation to keep the school under district control.
Banyan Elementary maintained a 62% utilization rate last school year with 350 students enrolled. The total purchase offer price from Christopher Columbus High School remains undisclosed to the public.
The players
Christopher Columbus High School
A private Catholic institution operated by the Marist Brothers that initiated the purchase proposal.
Banyan Elementary School
A public school in the district currently serving 350 students.
Miami-Dade County Public Schools
The public school district responsible for managing the campus and deciding on the potential sale.
The details
Christopher Columbus High School, operated by the Marist Brothers, proposed acquiring the elementary site to expand its campus footprint with new athletic facilities. The district-level proposal included either a fair market value purchase or a long-term lease, contingent on demolishing existing structures. The full school board is scheduled to consider the committee's rejection recommendation during their meeting next week.
Timeline
Wednesday, October 7, 2026: School board committee discussed the proposal.
Week of October 12, 2026: Full school board meeting scheduled to vote on the offer.
Beyond the 305
The potential sale of this site sits outside the district's August 2026 list of schools monitored for potential closure. This proposal marks a departure from standard district consolidation trends by involving an unsolicited acquisition request from a private entity.
Families with students at Banyan Elementary should watch for the full board vote next week to see if the campus remains under district operation. The decision determines whether the school continues to serve its 350 current students at its existing location.
The takeaway
Residents should monitor the school board's upcoming session the week of October 12, 2026, to confirm the future of the elementary school site. Tracking the board's final vote will clarify if the district intends to maintain ownership of the facility for the long term.
What happens next
The full Miami-Dade County Public Schools board will meet the week of October 12, 2026, to finalize a decision on the proposed sale.
Further reading
Find more updates on district facility planning and student enrollment on the Secondary Education page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Miami Herald.
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