Layoffs Inevitable for Pasco School Board in Florida

The Pasco School Board in Land O’ Lakes, Florida is facing an undisclosed number of layoffs this year.

Their fiscal budget for 2011 is looking to reduce spending by $28 million to $30 million.

“There will be some layoffs this year,” said superintendent Heather Fiorentino on Tuesday to the school board during a workshop. “There is no way to avoid that.”

There are early retirement buyouts planned, one of several factors which will determine how many layoffs occur.

“Eighty-five percent of my budget is people,” said Fiorentino, indicating the inevitability of personnel reductions.

The district has hundreds fewer employees compared to three years ago and has eliminated nearly a quarter of all administrative positions.