FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Broward County school officials are considering reducing up to 1,000 positions through attrition and targeted layoffs as they face an $80 million budget shortfall and declining student enrollment.

After voting to close six schools last month, the district is now looking for additional ways to save money while managing a staff that may be overextended given the drop in student numbers.

Projections show the district could lose another 9,000 students in the coming year.

Broward Superintendent Howard Hepburn said personnel costs have not declined at the same pace as enrollment.

“We have not right-sized our actual staffing footprint like we’ve done in the past two years with our facilities footprints,” he said.

The district has imposed a hiring freeze, filling vacancies only for specific needs related to safety or special circumstances.

“We have to make some difficult decisions,”Hepburn said. “Right now our goal is to reduce personnel by 1,000 positions through attrition first, followed by targeted layoffs and non-renewals.”

Broward School Board member Lori Alhadeff emphasized the need for a careful approach.

“We need to understand what our options are. We can’t just be loosey-goosey about this,” she said.

Hepburn said any layoffs would start at the top levels of administration.

“Teachers won’t be included in that,” he said. “They’re already impacted by a fluctuation in student enrollment just at their schools.”

Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.