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Budget Reductions

Understanding the Recommended Budget Reductions for Leon County Schools

As Leon County Schools prepares for the 2026–2027 school year, district leaders are confronting a difficult financial reality. With the expiration of federal Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) funds and rising operational costs, the district must identify nearly $7 million in budget reductions to maintain long-term financial stability.

The recommendations outlined below reflect efforts to preserve core instructional services while acknowledging that many of these reductions will have real impacts on schools, staff, students, and families. Each item has been carefully analyzed to balance fiscal responsibility with educational priorities.

Overview of Recommended Reductions

Total Estimated Savings: $6,963,000

  • Staffing for interventionists expanded significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving from 0.5 units per elementary and K-8 school pre-COVID to 3 units during COVID, and currently 2 units post-COVID. (** a unit is the terminology used in the school staffing plans for an individual)

    The recommendation would reduce staffing to 1 interventionist per elementary and K-8 school, with schools having the option to fund a second position through conversions. While intervention support would remain, fewer staff would be available to provide targeted academic assistance.

  • District-level support services would be reduced, leading to slower response times and fewer resources for professional learning, curriculum support, and data services. This category also includes district staffing reductions, identified with department input.

    While these changes are largely behind-the-scenes, they may be felt by schools through reduced capacity and support.

  • Many school social worker positions were previously supported through ESSER funds. Under this proposal, the district would fund 10 social workers instead of 27.

    Schools would have the option to fully fund additional social workers through internal budget conversions, but without those conversions, responsibilities would increasingly fall to school administrators, counselors, and school psychologists. This change is expected to increase workloads and may limit the level of direct social-emotional support available on campuses.

  • Under this recommendation, students would enroll directly in Florida Virtual School rather than Leon Virtual School. This change would reduce district costs but may limit local oversight and customization.

  • Campus Security Monitor positions were added before the statewide requirement for an armed officer on every campus. Under this proposal, these positions would be eliminated, with administrators assuming duties previously handled by security monitors.

    Schools may choose to fund these positions through conversions, but without that, administrative responsibilities related to campus supervision would increase.

  • Schools would see a reduction of $20 per Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) student. Principals would be required to shift funds, reduce non-essential spending, and make adjustments throughout the first year of implementation to absorb the impact.

  • Funding for arts and athletic programs would be reduced by 50 percent:

    • High schools would see arts and athletics funding drop from $50,000 each to $25,000 each

    • Middle school arts funding would decrease from $25,000 to $12,500

    As a result, families may face higher participation fees, and some programs may be scaled back or eliminated entirely. These reductions could significantly affect extracurricular opportunities that contribute to student engagement and school culture.

  • This reduction would limit contracted professional learning services for district and school staff. Travel related to professional development would continue to be scaled back, and fewer individuals would be available to provide instructional coaching and training from the District level. While professional learning remains a priority, these changes would reduce the scope and frequency of district-supported training opportunities.

  • Funding for community groups would be reduced by 50 percent, which may limit student participation in district-sponsored programs and enrichment activities that rely on these partnerships.

Moving Forward

These recommended reductions reflect the difficult choices facing Leon County Schools as temporary federal funding ends and financial pressures continue. While the district remains committed to student success, the reality is that many of these changes will be felt in classrooms, schools, and programs across the community.

If the proposed reductions are not sufficient to fully balance the 2026–2027 budget, Superintendent Rocky Hanna has also identified a list of additional potential reductions that could be considered. These options include further decreases in interventionist staffing, increases in class size across grade levels, furlough days for administrators, elimination of remaining arts and athletics funding, reduction of elective course offerings through the removal of seventh period, and the elimination of funding for community group initiatives.

It is important to note that these additional reductions are not automatically expected to occur. If further action is needed, the School Board would have the ability to review the superintendent’s recommendations and determine which individual items, if any, to implement. The entire list would not be required, and board members could choose specific options based on community priorities and the district’s needs.

As discussions continue, feedback from educators, families, and community members will be critical in shaping final decisions and identifying ways to mitigate the impact wherever possible.

Transparency, collaboration, and shared responsibility will be essential as Leon County Schools navigates this challenging budget cycle.