FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — It’s no secret this is a challenging time for Broward County Public Schools.
Another big decision has been made by the school board to try and cut costs.
Broward County Public Schools is expected to cut thousands of jobs over the next few years following a 6-3 vote by the school board on Tuesday.
As a result, Superintendent Howard Hepburn has been directed to come up with a plan that will eliminate up to a thousand jobs this year, and then again in each of the next two years as well.
The district is losing thousands of students a year.
Over the past decade, almost 40,000 students have left.
“We’ve been losing students for the last 10 to 15 years, but we have not reduced our non-teaching staff,” said Broward School Board member Jeff Holness.
Budget cuts are already forcing the district to close several schools, but district leaders say this plan would not cut teaching jobs, only non-teaching jobs.
Broward Teachers Union President Anna Fusco doesn’t buy it.
“They’ve said it, here’s what’s happening with the students, it’s decreasing,” said Fusco. “Who works with the students the most? Educators. So you’re going to continue to keep the same educators, but lose students and close schools?”
The cuts are expected to save about $250 million a year.
Hepburn is expected to come up with a plan by July.
“You have to measure the value that people bring to the organization,” he said. “We are a bit overstaffed. We have to work at looking at this complex challenge and find any cost savings possible.”
Until we see that final plan, it won’t be known just how many jobs will be eliminated, and where.
Any employees who lose their jobs this year are expected to be told later this spring, with an end date in late June.
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