Broward schools are slashing 1,000 jobs to save $54 million. Here’s what to know

Broward County Public Schools will eliminate 1,000 positions by the 2026-2027 school year in a cost-cutting move tied to declining student enrollment.

The school board approved the plan 7-2 after a nearly eight-hour meeting, with critics arguing it spares top executives while gutting student-facing roles.

FULL STORY: Broward school board OKs sweeping cuts in budget-saving move. Here’s the latest

Here are key takeaways:

• The plan cuts 300 filled and 700 vacant positions, saving an estimated $54 million. Superintendent Howard Hepburn was tasked in March with finding up to 3,000 job cuts over three years to save roughly $250 million.
• BCPS has lost nearly 40,000 students in the past decade, including about 10,000 this year, with another 10,000 projected next year. State funding is tied to enrollment.
• Positions hit hardest include 35 instructional facilitators, 15 behavioral support teachers and 38 student support instructional specialists. Transportation workers and suicide prevention coordinators are also being eliminated.
• No “chief” positions are slated for elimination, drawing sharp criticism. Board member Adam Cervera asked, “Was our goal to protect the bigwigs in this building while screwing over the teachers and school-based staff?”
• Final notices to affected employees began May 12. BCPS estimates 80-90% of those impacted will qualify for other openings, including teacher vacancies.

This report was produced with the assistance of a proprietary tool powered by artificial intelligence and using our own originally reported, written and published content. It was reviewed and edited by our journalists.