Broward Schools to Slash Budget by $65 Million

Broward schools plan to make cuts to security staff, administrators, and other expenses in an effort to slash the district budget by $64.6 million. Superintendent Howard Hepburn has outlined some of the broad cuts for the 2025-26 school year in a memo sent to the School Board, while the South Florida Sun Sentinel has obtained data showing where some specific cuts may be.

Reasons for the Cuts

The district is facing cuts in state funding due to enrollment drops as more families choose private school vouchers and other education options. Enrollment has declined about 30,000 from a decade ago and is expected to drop another 8,800 this fall. But the number of employees has increased by 324 over that same time period.

Enrollment Decline and Its Impact

This will be the district’s largest effort in years to “right-size.” The district has been able to avoid major cuts in recent years due to an infusion of federal COVID relief dollars and referendum dollars. But those dollars have either been exhausted or already allocated.

Proposed Cuts

“These challenges have necessitated strategic reorganization to ensure fiscal responsibility without compromising student services and academic outcomes,” Hepburn wrote in his memo, dated May 2. The Sun Sentinel has learned one of the major cuts being proposed will be in security. District spokesman John Sullivan confirmed on Thursday that the district plans to cut 104 campus monitors and four other security positions.

Security Staff Reductions

Although the district has regularly cut teaching and custodial positions based on enrollment declines, the number of security positions has grown dramatically as a result of the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland. The district has about 692 campus monitors, triple the number from 2015-16, and about 250 security specialists, which is twice as many as a decade ago.

Broward County Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn speaks during a special meeting of the Broward County School Board in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (Amy Beth Bennett / South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Allocation of Security Personnel

Security personnel, both armed and unarmed, will be allocated next school year based on a new formula, using not only the size of the school but the number of reported behavior and safety incidents at a school, Deputy Superintendent Angela Fulton wrote in an April 25 memo obtained by the Sun Sentinel. “This ensures that staffing levels are responsive to both the size of the school and its safety environment while maintaining fairness, consistency, and transparency in how resources are allocated,” Fulton wrote.

Other Proposed Cuts

The district also has proposed eliminating dozens of other non-administrator positions, including 21 in academics, 12 in operations, four in communications, 10 in information technology, eight in human resources, three in finance, and two in strategy, Sullivan confirmed. He said most of these are currently vacant. A proposed organization chart prepared for a May 6 workshop includes eliminating some higher-paid administrators as well.
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Howard Hepburn and School Board member Lori Alhadeff watch the rollout of metal detectors at Charles Flanagan High School in Pembroke Pines on June 24, 2024. The school district plans to make cuts to security staff and other expenses in an effort to slash the district budget. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

Strategic Realignment and Cost-Saving Measures

Hepburn said he expects most job cuts to come through attrition and transfers. He said he wants to fill only about 40% of vacancies. He has not announced any plans for layoffs. “The District remains committed to supporting any impacted employees by connecting them with employment services and other resources,” Sullivan said. “While any staff reduction is challenging, the Superintendent believes it is necessary to align staffing levels and budget realities with declining enrollment. This will allow BCPS to continue delivering high-quality opportunities for students while preserving competitive compensation for our employees.”

Additional Cost-Saving Measures!

Hepburn’s memo has identified some other cost-saving measures as well, including:

• Reducing overtime by $50 million.
• Reducing travel and conference costs by $1 million.
• Not renewing $6.6 million in district contracts, mostly in technology services.
• Making $426,000 in transportation cuts through efficiencies, including “optimizing bus routes, reducing fuel consumption, and improving overall transportation management,” according to Hepburn’s memo.

Conclusion

The proposed cuts are part of a larger effort to address the district’s financial challenges. By reducing costs and streamlining operations, the district hopes to maintain its commitment to providing high-quality education to its students while also ensuring fiscal responsibility. The success of these efforts will depend on the district’s ability to implement the proposed cuts effectively and efficiently.

FAQs

Q: Why is the district cutting its budget?
A: The district is cutting its budget due to declining enrollment and reduced state funding.
Q: How much is the district cutting from its budget?
A: The district is cutting $64.6 million from its budget.
Q: What areas will be affected by the cuts?
A: The cuts will affect security staff, administrators, and other expenses.
Q: Will there be layoffs?
A: The superintendent has not announced any plans for layoffs, and most job cuts are expected to come through attrition and transfers.
Q: What other cost-saving measures is the district implementing?
A: The district is reducing overtime, travel and conference costs, and not renewing certain contracts, among other measures.