JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Duval County Public Schools will eliminate an estimated 11% of district level positions and 6% of school-based positions and increase class sizes, according to a press release from Interim Superintendent Dr. Dana Kriznar.
The new budget will be implemented in September, but Kriznar said some teachers have already been notified that their positions will be eliminated.
That amounts to 199 district-level positions and 507 positions.
In a letter to district employees, Kriznar said the job cuts are necessary due to "extraordinary" financial challenges. These challenges are also leading to increased class sizes, she said.
"In normal circumstances, the decision to budget for an increase in class sizes who be the last of my recommendations. However, the financial situation is so challenging, it really leaves no other option to reach a balanced budget under the financial challenges we face."
She listed several "significant variables" leading to these decisions. First, COVID-related funds from the federal government have previously supported the district's annual budget. Kriznar says these funds previously supported 720 positions, some of which will be kept and some of which will be dissolved.
She also credited the increase in private school vouchers, explaining that this has led to a drop in funding for DCPS.
"While this is not the news I was hoping to bring as we approach the end of the school year, I know that one of Team Duval’s greatest strengths is resilience," Kriznar wrote towards the end of the release.
The estimated changes to class sizes are as follows:
- Kindergarten through third grade — from 20 students this year to 22 students in 2024-25
- Fourth and fifth grade — from 24 students this year to 26 students in 2024-25
- Grades six through eight academic core classes—from 26 students this year to 26.5 students in 2024-25 with a reduction from an eight-period schedule to a seven-period schedule
- Grades nine through 12 — from 27 students this year to 29.5 for 2024-25