Broward Schools to cut up to 3,000 jobs to save $250 million. What we know
The Broward County School Board approved a directive Tuesday for Superintendent Howard Hepburn to develop a plan to reduce up to 3,000 jobs over the next three years to align with the steady decade-long student decline in enrollment.
The measure, presented at the BCPS board meeting on March 10, calls for cuts of 1,000 positions the first year and up to 1,000 for the following two years, with no fewer than 500.
Board Vice Chair Jeff Holness, who represents District 5, said the reductions are expected to primarily impact non-instructional staff, not teachers, who have already been affected by declining student enrollment.
“We’ve been losing students for the last 10 to 15 years, but we have not reduced our non-teaching staff,” Holness said. “While our school district is performing well academically, we have serious financial concerns.”
Hepburn said that the phased cuts could save more than $250 million over three years. The district is currently facing a $90 million budget shortfall.
Holness said this approach could help the district provide better compensation for teachers while addressing the financial instability.
The district has lost nearly 39,000 students over the past decade, while staffing levels have only modestly decreased from 21,835 to 20,847, according to data reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Officials at the meeting said about 4,400 positions are district-level staff, meaning non-school-based employees who are paid through the district’s general fund.
During public comment, several speakers raised concerns about how staff reductions could eventually affect classrooms, warning that responsibilities may shift onto teachers.
“We should look at all non-teaching positions starting from the top and continue proportionally across job levels,” Holness said. “This problem did not start here, this problem started many years ago, and it culminated into where we are today and the financial concerns that we have.”
Board member Adam Cervera, who represents District 6, said he would support the effort and hopes the plan can be executed “swiftly and efficiently.”
“Whatever plan you come up with, can not, should not and must not include teachers, under any circumstance...” Cervera said. “I am willing to support this as long as I have your commitment, Mr. Superintendent.”
Cervera said the cost savings could be used for a viable raise for teachers in the district, whom he described as “woefully underpaid.”
Kathelyn Jacques-Adams, Interim General Counsel, clarified for the public that the short-handed Office of General Counsel is still advertising some open positions it has and that possible cuts don’t include general counsel staff.
Hepburn said they are working with a third party, whom which he later identified as MGT, to come up with a plan that “does not endanger the essential operations of the district and also the support that our schools are receiving.”
Other board members expressed concern about locking the district into a fixed reduction of 1,000 jobs per year. Board member Debra Hixon questioned whether the number could conflict with findings from the outside review.
Board member Nora Rupert, who represents District 7, said she would prefer a plan based on financial savings rather than a specific number of positions.
Board member Rebecca Thompson, of District 2, supported a long‑term staffing strategy but also was uncomfortable with setting a fixed staff reduction per year.
“We have committed to 1,000 positions, but going forward saying 1,000 positions every time, I’m not comfortable with that,” she said.
Hepburn said they are working with the third-party consultant to develop the plan while ensuring student experience, support services and mental health services remain top priorities.
Board member Allen Zeman said the number of cuts should be 4,702 had the district reduced general fund staff at the same rate as student declines.
He said the cuts are necessary if the district wants to create room for teacher raises.
Board member Maura McCarthy Bulman, who represents District 1, supported the measure and said she saw it as “flexible.” Bulman described it as a step toward developing a long-term staffing strategy.
But others on the board said they should give the superintendent more latitude in determining the approach.
“He’s doing the job, so let him do the job,” board member Lori Alhadeff said. “He needs that flexibility not to have his back against the wall to a plan that was set today on March 10, 2026. Things are going to change ... Our staff needs to know that they have job security in year two, year three.”
The board ultimately approved the measure with a 6-3 vote. Alhadeff, Rupert and Chairwoman Sarah Leonardi opposed the motion.
Under the amended item, the superintendent has until July 21 to present a full plan, instead of May 12.
Hepburn is still expected to present an initial staffing proposal during the board’s April 14 workshop, which could include the possibility of reducing 1,000 positions for the upcoming school year.
