Broward school board approves plan to eliminate 1,000 jobs to save $54 million

The Broward County School Board approved a plan to cut 1,000 job positions to save the cash-strapped school district about $54 million on Monday.

The job cuts come as Broward County Public Schools struggle with major budget issues due to years of declining student enrollment. Out of the roughly 1,000 positions, 700 are currently vacant and 300 are filled. Board members also decided to cut and consolidate a few high-level positions during the meeting. Employees who lose their current jobs may be placed into vacant job positions that were not affected by the cuts in the coming months, said Superintendent Howard Hepburn.

“Today’s action is more than just about the organizational chart. It’s about ensuring Broward County Public Schools is structured to meet today’s challenges while we remain strong and work toward a sustainable future,” Hepburn said at a press conference after the meeting.

Though Hepburn stressed that the cuts focus on district jobs as opposed to school-based jobs, dozens of employees who spoke during public comment argued that the plan impacts workers who interact directly with students.

Some of the positions (both currently filled and vacant) that were cut include executive directors, suicide prevention coordinators, transportation workers and teachers for deaf and hard of hearing students. Out of the 40 job positions from the Student Support Instructional Specialists division, which is part of the district’s mental health department, 38 will be cut.

“You stated you’re not removing people that directly impact children. Lies. You said zero will be impacted. Lies. The truth shall set us all free,” said Pachuska Vil, a school mental health counselor. “You’re not speaking the truth. Just because a position is in district doesn’t mean they’re not impacting children”

In March, the school board directed the superintendent to devise a plan to eliminate 3,000 job positions over three years to save about $250 million. The board was supposed to hold a workshop on Hepburn’s plan on Monday and hold a vote on May 19th. But last week, the board decided to forgo the workshop and hold the final vote on Monday.

Shortly after Hepburn began his remarks at the meeting, board member Adam Cervera placed a sign on the dais that read: “SAVE BROWARD SCHOOLS! VOTE DOWN THE ORG CHART.” Toward the end of the debate, Cervera made a motion to save over 100 job positions from elimination, but to no avail.

“For months and months and months, I’ve been screaming from the mountaintops that while I understand the need for cuts we cannot and should not cut any teacher or those folks who interact with our students on a day-to-day basis,” Cervera said with a hoarse voice. “[...] These calls, unfortunately, were ignored by this version of the org chart and the version before it. Instead of starting our cuts at the top, like we should have, were going after the rank-and-file.”

Cervera put forward several motions to cut top-level positions with mixed success. Some board members pushed back on Cervera’s efforts due to concerns that there may be longterm repercussions if the board cut certain top brass jobs.

“I think we have to be very careful. I don’t want to be penny wise and pound foolish,” said board member Maura Bulman.

‘It really hurts me to my heart’

During public comment, advocates, teachers and school district employees invoked poetry, math, the Everglades ecosystem and even “The Hunger Games” to convince the board to vote against the plan. One woman did the three-finger salute and mockingjay whistle from the movie to demonstrate her opposition to the cuts.

Lisa Yurkin, who was representing the Federation of Public Employees union, said the organizational chart reminded her of the birds that swoop down into the water to catch fish. The highly-paid folks at the top of the chart are the birds, and the workers are the fish, she said.

“We get tired of being the fish. We really do. Some of us are floating on top of the water like it’s been a red tide. Don’t y’all feel like we’ve had a red tide?” Yurkin asked the crowd.

Broward Teachers Union president Anna Fusco said the plan cuts too many employees that work with students and will jeopardize how the district functions.

“You’re not going to see the impact now because they’re here,” Fusco said. “You will see that impact will happen the first week of school. Mark my words.”

Longtime teachers and district staff spoke candidly about how the changes will affect students, colleagues, themselves and their families.

“We need to start from the top. Nobody in here makes over $150,000 or $100,000 or $90,000,” said teacher Maria Podesta. “Thirty-four years, and I make like $65,000 and that’s because I’m doing summer school, which I don’t want to do. [...] I didn’t know so many people were out of the classroom making all this money!”

Sheena Newton, the assistant director of the district’s Business Support Center who has worked for the district for 29 years, pleaded with the board. She was at risk of losing her job because of the organizational changes and won’t be able to afford to send her children to college. She said she prepared a speech but was so upset she just spoke from the heart.

“I just think it’s unfair, because I show so much loyalty to this district, and I don’t feel that I’m receiving that loyalty back,” Newton said. “It really hurts me to my heart because I graduated from this district. Class of ‘89 at Dillard High School. I worked my way up in this district. [...] I worked hard to get where I am today, and I feel like everything has been stripped away from me.”

After public comment, board member Debra Hixon submitted a motion to ensure in writing that the district will make sure employees five years or fewer away from retirement are provided an individual plan to help find them a job to complete their careers. That passed unanimously.

Hixon said that while the decision to cut jobs is heartbreaking, it is important for employees to know their job status as soon as possible.

“Everyone who’s on that list has a personal story. It is their livelihood. This is not easy for anyone, but unfortunately, we find ourselves in this place, as many businesses do,” Hixon said. “You all saw what happened with Spirit Airlines. Poof. One day, all those people just lost their jobs. We don’t want to do that.”

This story was originally published May 11, 2026 at 7:02 PM.