Hillsborough County schools cutting 1,000 jobs to cover $100 million budget shortfall

Hillsborough County Public Schools are set to cut 1,000 positions in order to cover the system's $100 million budget shortfall.

The big picture: It's the 7th-largest school district in the nation, yet Florida ranks as one of the worst states for funding public education.

The state of play: Superintendent Addison Davis, who took questions from reporters yesterday, said teachers and employees already in the system will hopefully be safe from unemployment as positions are "weaned away."

• Everyone, including Davis and school principals, will need to be furloughed for four days over the summer.
• Cuts to district expenditures, construction contracts, travel and overtime costs will cover the remaining $15 million not covered by position cuts.
• Art, music, PE, media, mental health and technology in elementary schools may need to be further funded through millage taxes, Davis said.

The bottom line, per Davis: "It's a big puzzle. We just continue taking it apart and putting it together to figure out if it makes sense."

This story first appeared in the Axios Tampa Bay newsletter, designed to help readers get smarter, faster on the most consequential news unfolding in their own backyard.

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