Nine Miami-Dade County public schools will close ahead of the upcoming academic year, which officials have said is the result of continued declining enrollment.

Why it matters: The closures — unanimously approved this month by the School Board — are the latest example of the challenges traditional public school districts face due to the state's expanded voucher system and the growth of private alternatives.

Case in point: In April, the board signed off on an unprecedented agreement with Success Academy, enabling it to operate within five district high schools beginning in August 2027.

• Success is New York's largest charter school conglomerate and is backed by billionaire Ken Griffin.

The big picture: Those five high schools are not among those closing.

• But nearly all nine schools slated for closure were among the nearly 90 that received interest from charter school companies about sharing building space, part of the state's expanded Schools of Hope program.
• The campus-sharing law allows certain charters to move into schools with low enrollment while requiring the district to foot the bill for custodial, food and other services.

The latest: Two schools in the district's North Region, three in the Central and four in the South will close or be combined with other schools for the upcoming year, per district records.

• Those schools: Parkway, Rainbow Park, Lenora Brayon Smith, Phillis Wheatley, Pine Villa and Robert Russa Moton elementaries, Miami Springs and Richmond Heights middle schools, and Mandarin Lakes K-8.

Between the lines: A district committee picked the schools, citing factors like enrollment declines, class-size mandates, new development and reduction or elimination of racial isolation, among other criteria.

• The proposed closures were presented to the board and the schools' communities before the final approval.

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Miami has a new soundtrack, courtesy of six local artists who won the Elevated Tracks 305 original song contest.

Why it matters: Organizers hope the songs receive official recognition.

Driving the news: Elevated Tracks 305, which launched in March with support from Grammy Award-winning Miami artists including Gloria and Emilio Estefan, received over 135 original submissions and 3,800 public votes.

• In the adult and youth categories, first place received $10,000, second place $2,500 and third place $1,000.

Here are the winners

Adult:

• First place: Harold Valderrama (V12) ("Rumba")
• Second place: Hussein J. Abdala ft. Carlos Oliva ("Miami Es Miami (305 Edition)")
• Third place: Marti & Leah Dibut ("Dance in Miami")

Youth:

• First place: Soleil River Nation, age 12, ("Miami On My Tongue")
• Second place: Abigail Fundora ("Abi-G"), age 11, ("La Gringa Tiene Tumbao")
• Third place: Skye Sconiers ("Skye Aria"), age 11, ("Dale 305")

What's next: Live performances are in the works.

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🤩 Katana Japanese Restaurant, the beloved Miami Beach restaurant featuring sushi on tiny boats, opened its second location on Coral Way. (Miami New Times)

🤷 Gov. Ron DeSantis won't campaign to help pass a Florida referendum that would eliminate property taxes for millions of homeowners in the state, except for those that fund schools. (Miami Herald)

• Eliminating taxes has been one of the governor's top efforts over the last year, but he said what ended up on the ballot isn't what he proposed.

👍 Miami Beach officials gave the initial OK on a plan to construct a rooftop addition to the seven-story mixed-use building, The Rivani. (The Real Deal)

• The plan includes transforming the garage's sixth level into office space, multiple padel courts and a restaurant.

A new private luxury terminal at Miami International Airport offers wealthy commercial flyers a way to never step foot inside MIA.

Why it matters: PS today launches operations at the historic former Pan American Airways headquarters at MIA under a 20-year lease expected to pay Miami-Dade County about $16 million.

• PS, which operates in four U.S. airports, invested about $12 million renovating the building, the Miami Herald reports.

How it works: Offerings include private TSA screening, spa and lounge services and a car that takes you directly to your plane (and then from the plane to your hotel).

• For all-access members paying $4,850 per year, every visit to the PS terminal comes with per-use costs: the private suite for the day is $3,650, including free spa services, valet parking for 30 days and a car wash.
• Chauffeur service, launching later this year, would cost an additional $1,125.
• Non-members can also use the terminal but it's extra.

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I had friends visiting Miami who wanted a bay-side cocktail near their downtown hotel, so we took the Metromover to Crazy About You.

• The $16 Union Mezcal Paloma was half off during happy hour (4pm-7pm).

👌3-or-5-word review: Herbaceous, spicy and refreshing.

• The $11 jamon croquetas were not happy hour eligible but their egg-carton carrying case made up for it.