Miramar City Commission settles lawsuit over sudden closure of Light Academy
The City of Miramar has officially approved a settlement ending a lawsuit filed by The Light Academy of Florida, LLC, over the school’s abrupt closure at Vizcaya Park in 2025.
The settlement was approved by the Miramar City Commission on Wednesday, following a closed-door executive session held before the regular commission meeting, according to the resolution released by the city.
“To this day I still don’t know why the city closed us down the way they did,” Davis told the Miramar News on Friday, before learning of the settlement.
Due to the litigation, she declined further comment.
The city’s resolution states that neither party admits wrongdoing or liability, and that the agreement was reached in an effort to avoid continued litigation and resolve all claims.
At the commission meeting, Miramar Mayor Wayne M. Messam mentioned to the audience that a special meeting had taken place minutes before. At the April 20 commission meeting, the city attorney told the commission they would be discussing the lawsuit at their May 6 meeting.
The Miramar News has requested a copy of the settlement under the Freedom of Information Act.
According to the resolution, the city’s Risk Management Department recommended approval of the settlement, and City Manager Roy Virgin was authorized to take all necessary actions to finalize the agreement.
The lawsuit stemmed from the sudden shutdown of the Light Academy, a private middle school founded by veteran educator Cassandre Davis.
In 2025, the school had entered into an agreement with the city to operate out of space at Vizcaya Park, 14200 SW 55th St.
According to Davis, the 2025-26 school year had already begun with a small group of students, when two days into it, she was informed by the city that the academy could no longer operate at the park, WPLG reported at the time.
The only explanation she received, she said, was that it had to do with the usage of public bathrooms.
Davis later sued the city for injunctive relief in Broward County court, alleging breach of contract, wrongful eviction and interference with a contractual relationship.
At the time of the closure, city officials blocked access to the facility, leading students, parents and staff to gather at City Hall demanding answers, which they did not receive, Davis said.
The Light Academy is now preparing to reopen at a brick-and-mortar location at 6161 NW 22nd Ave. in Liberty City.
Until the settlement was approved, court records had indicated the case was continuing toward trial.
