Some 300 employees in Broward County Public Schools have been notified that their jobs may be eliminated after the current school year, as district officials move to address a growing budget deficit and years of declining student enrollment.
District leaders say the layoffs are part of a broader restructuring plan that could ultimately impact about 1,000 positions annually over the next three years. While roughly 300 currently filled jobs are at risk, most of the approximately 856 to 1,000 positions identified for elimination are already vacant, officials said.
Superintendent Howard Hepburn described the decision as difficult but necessary.
“Yesterday was a difficult day for our BCPS family,” Hepburn said in a statement after employees were notified. “These decisions are driven by sustained declining enrollment and the resulting loss of funding. The proposed organizational chart reflects the need to responsibly align resources while protecting classrooms.”
The district faces an $80 million budget shortfall this year and anticipates an additional deficit of nearly $90 million next year. Officials say enrollment has declined significantly, with roughly 50,000 fewer students over the past decade — including more than 12,000 students lost in recent years — resulting in reduced state funding.
School board member Debra Hixon said fewer students inevitably lead to fewer positions.
“If you decrease your student enrollment by over 12,000 students, there are fewer students to serve, so you would need fewer positions,” Hixon said. “This really impacts people, and it hurts my heart to have to go through this, but unfortunately, it’s where we find ourselves.”
The proposed cuts primarily affect non-teaching positions, including:
- 11 elementary school counselors
- 17 exceptional student education counselors
- 16 social workers
- 21 clerical support assistants
- 40 district management positions
- 53 non-teaching roles tied to schools scheduled to close in the 2026-27 school year
Additional reductions impact transportation, maintenance, and other support services.
Union leaders warn the cuts could still significantly affect students.
Anna Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union, said she has received calls from “frantic workers” across departments.
“The cuts will greatly impact schools,” Fusco said, noting that even though teachers are not directly affected, vulnerable students could lose important support services. “You are not getting the services these kids need. The people at the top need to stop playing games.”
Fusco also criticized the scale of the reductions, arguing that leadership positions at the highest levels were not targeted.
District officials say not all affected employees will necessarily lose their jobs. Some may be reassigned to newly created lower-paid positions, while others may be eligible for recall if openings become available. Employees may also apply for other roles within the district.
The proposed restructuring is expected to generate about $45 million in savings from both filled and unfilled positions currently funded this school year.
School officials say the job cuts are part of a broader “right-sizing” effort ordered by the School Board as enrollment continues to decline. The board directed the superintendent to identify 1,000 positions to cut annually over the next three years.
The School Board is scheduled to discuss the proposed layoffs during a workshop on April 21, with a vote expected the following week.
