Overview

• Howard Hepburn, previously deputy superintendent, was appointed as the new superintendent of Broward County Public Schools following Peter Licata's resignation due to health concerns.
• The district faces a financial crisis with a projected loss of $39 million due to declining student enrollment, necessitating potential school closures.
• A settlement was reached with local charter schools, requiring the district to pay $80 million over three years for not sharing discretionary tax funds as mandated by state law.
• Hepburn is committed to increasing transparency and community involvement in decision-making processes, promising detailed plans in the upcoming board meetings.
• The district's budget is under severe strain, also impacted by decisions to increase teacher salaries using finite federal COVID-19 relief funds.