JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Friday, speculation broke about hundreds of job cuts at Duval County schools after a local state representative called the issue out on social media.
Those speculations were confirmed that evening with a letter from interim superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar explaining that the school district has struggled to grapple with the loss of COVID-19-related relief funds and the impact of declining enrollment.
The email laid out the potential plans regarding measures the district is taking, including reducing staff and increasing class sizes.
Duval Teachers United (DTU) President Tammie Brooks-Evans echoed the issues the district is facing that were outlined in the email.
“We know that the district is down when it comes to the number of students we have enrolled, and that directly affects the budget. We know that the district is ending now their ESSER funds that end this year,” Brooks-Evans said. “So, it kind of creates a perfect storm where you’re losing funding because the students you’re losing funding that come from the federal government, and then trying to balance budgets for schools.”
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The email said the district estimates eliminating 199 district-level positions and 507 school-based positions, resulting in higher class average sizes.
Brooks-Evans said it is surprising to hear about job cuts when the district is already facing teacher shortages.
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“We are worried in our office concerning the class size, and what’s going to happen to the teachers that may be left. What’s gonna happen to our classes? The district no longer is required to pay a fine when they don’t meet the class size amendment. So with that happening, that causes another issue that our teachers are having,” she said.
Brooks-Evans also said DTU is concerned for the teachers they represent and the students dealing with overcrowded classes.
“We want to make sure everyone stays employed and has a great benefit package and are able to do the work. We have concerns about students being in classes that are overcrowded. I feel like at this point, we’re going backward instead of moving forward. And that we have to hold people accountable in Tallahassee when they make decisions that have direct impact on what is happening in our public schools,” she said.
Brooks-Evans encouraged teachers to wait for their principals to conduct a budget meeting. If a teacher receives a call to have a conversation, she urges them to contact Duval Teachers United.
“We will be meeting with the district and monitoring what’s happening as they come out of budget. I know that DTU is here to fight to try to keep all of the positions or that we don’t lose any teaching positions. Especially since we know we already have a shortage. We need to maintain our staff that we have and try to grow the population,” Brooks-Evans said.