BCPS Town Hall Meeting with Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn | Live

Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn’s town hall on October 8, 2026, covered academic results, declining enrollment, the district’s budget outlook, and a proposed renewal of the school funding referendum. Hepburn said enrollment has fallen by roughly 10,000 district students annually for the past two years, contributing to about $100 million in annual revenue shortfalls; the district has lost nearly 50,000 students and approximately $450 million in revenue over the past decade. The district is considering further facility right-sizing amid roughly 60,000 open seats and projections of about 158,000 students by 2030. Reported cost-saving steps included reducing about 1,000 positions for $54 million in recurring savings, restructuring health care for about $46 million in savings, and closing seven schools.

The superintendent discussed the November 3 ballot question to renew a one-mill property tax for four years beginning in the 2027–28 school year, which he said would generate about $358 million annually for district and charter schools. The board’s proposed allocation is 90% for compensation and 10% for safety, security, and mental-health services; the estimated cost for an average homeowner was given as $418 per year. Other initiatives mentioned included artificial-turf upgrades to athletic fields and a BusPatrol partnership, under which citations for illegally passing stopped school buses are $225. No procurement awards, contract approvals, or spending votes occurred during the town hall.