Broward County Public Schools Faces $80 Million Debt Dilemma
Broward County Public Schools has an $80 million headache.
Background
Even with a nearly $6 billion budget, that’s a substantial amount — and the issue started, as it turns out, when voters approved a referendum in 2018 to provide more money for teacher salaries, school security, and mental health programs.
The Problem
The school district’s teachers got a raise from that referendum. In 2021, the Fourth District Court of Appeals ruled Broward’s public charter school teachers should also have received that same pay raise, but they never did.
State Board of Education Intervention
The Florida Board of Education grilled district officials Wednesday at their meeting in Winter Park.
“Is it the position of the school board that you’re in compliance with the 2018 referendum?” asked board chair Ben Gibson.
The answer to that question is complicated, according to Broward School Board chair Lori Alhadeff.
“The district is working diligently to address the concerns related to the revenues corresponding to the 2018 referendum,” Alhadeff told the board.
Resolution
The bottom line, according to Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, is that Broward Schools owes the county’s public charter schools about $80 million.
“The best-case scenario here is that a resolution is reached,” Diaz said.
The school board voted unanimously last week to settle the issue with the charters.
Plan for Resolution
The state Board of Education wants the district to have a plan to share the money with the charter schools by April 17th. Former Republican Senator George LeMieux will mediate the process.
Conclusion
The Broward County Public Schools debt dilemma highlights the importance of clear communication and planning in budgeting and referendum implementation. The district must work diligently to address the concerns related to the 2018 referendum and ensure that the charter schools receive the funds they are owed.
FAQs
Q: What is the issue with the 2018 referendum?
A: The issue is that the referendum did not specify that charter school teachers should also receive the pay raise, despite the Fourth District Court of Appeals ruling that they should.
Q: How much does Broward Schools owe the charter schools?
A: According to Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, Broward Schools owes the county’s public charter schools about $80 million.
Q: What is the plan for resolving the issue?
A: The state Board of Education wants the district to have a plan to share the money with the charter schools by April 17th. Former Republican Senator George LeMieux will mediate the process.
Q: What is the timeline for resolving the issue?
A: The district must have a plan in place by April 17th to share the money with the charter schools.
