Broward school board delays vote to cut over 800 jobs to save $40 million
A Broward school board vote over whether to cut hundreds of district jobs to mitigate declining student enrollment has been delayed.
At a lengthy April 28 special school board meeting, Broward County Public Schools officials chose to push the decision to reduce 856 positions — including school counselors, behavioral support staff, social workers and clerical support — to a formal vote on May 19.
Before that, school board members will polish the final proposal at a May 11 workshop.
“That’s being deferred to the next workshop. Get more input, more feedback, give the board a little bit more time to digest information, talk to us as staff if they have any additional questions so they can make the right recommendations to us,” Superintendent Howard Hepburn said in an April 28 press conference.
Jobs that could be on the chopping block are largely unoccupied, with 159 positions left vacant due to attrition and a hiring freeze, as well as 344 positions that were planned but never funded, according to a revised reduction plan released by BCPS for its April 28 workshop.
Those affected include approximately 300 employees who were notified in mid-April that their jobs would be eliminated or reduced by the 2026-2027 academic year.
BCPS says the cost-cutting reorganization plan could save approximately $40 million, welcome savings following a steep drop in student enrollment.
There are over 45,000 empty seats in BCPS this school year, WLRN reported in August, and district data shows that roughly 10,000 students have left the county’s public schools since 2024.
“We’ve experienced a decline in enrollment this school year and we’re going to experience another decline in enrollment for the upcoming school year,” Hepburn said. “Tough decisions have to be made when we’re constantly losing so much revenue every year.”
Suggested cuts also stirred up concerns about upper-level positions being largely spared, and the possible blow to mental health support for students.
“This is where you tell your superintendent to go and start cutting from the top. There’s no avoiding it ... Try to consolidate. You do not need all these executive directors,” said Nathalie Lynch-Walsh, an education advocate, at the April 28 meeting.
A draft of the proposed 2026-27 BCPS organizational chart shows the district’s “chief” positions are untouched and that five “executive” positions could be cut.
Meanwhile, “below the line” reductions could include 16 school social workers, 11 school counselors and 27 exceptional student education teachers, specialists, counselors and a director, per the district’s current organizational position reduction plan.
This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 2:54 PM with the headline "Broward school board delays vote to cut over 800 jobs to save $40 million."
