DCPS enrollment is down 3,000 students, making teachers have to reorganize

Jacksonville, FL. — DCPS enrollment is down 3,000 students according to the local teachers union, Duval Teachers United.

Therefore, teachers have to reorganize.

A letter sent out to Alimacani Elementary parents from the school’s principal said staff would be reduced and some classes would be re-organized.

The school is currently missing about 80 students according to the letter.

The situation isn’t isolated.

Terrie Brady, the president of Duval Teachers United, reported that some schools are down up to 200 students.

As a result, teachers at those schools are being forced out of their classroom and into other schools in a plan the district calls ‘surplussing’.

Brady told Action News Jax this happens every year, but never on this scale.

As a result, she expects some class sizes could increase slightly as students are re-assigned.

She said, “if teachers are leaving the building.

Then class sizes are going to rise a little.”

Funding for schools is decided on student population.

Alimacani Elementary Prinicpal, Kathy Stalls, told parents in a letter home, “We have received information from Duval County Public Schools regarding our funding based on our reduced numbers of students.

Unfortunately, we will experience a reduction in our teaching staff.

Brick and mortar students will be impacted by these moves, as well as our students in Duval Homeroom.”

In the coming days, the letter said, some students and teachers would be re-assigned.

Brady said she does not expect any layoffs in the near future, but added after Election Day, there could be talks about the state budget that could impact schools.

In a statement to Action News Jax, Duval County Public Schools said, “when there are major shifts in enrollment, staffing is adjusted accordingly to accommodate varying enrollment levels.

So it’s not about a rise or drop of student enrollment from year to year in the district.

It’s about varying levels of student enrollment from school to school, and platform to platform that requires adjustment of staff.”

The district went on to say, “what may be different is the fluidity we have this year due to the enrollment options and windows we’ve offered families in light of COVID-19.”

They could not tell us exactly how many teachers or schools are impacted.

Cox Media Group