Sarasota County Schools to Cut 136 Teaching Positions

Declining student enrollment leads to budget constraints and teacher layoffs

Apr. 6, 2026 at 10:06pm

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An abstract, dreamy image of an empty classroom, with blurred desks, chairs, and school supplies visible through a hazy, rain-streaked lens, conveying a sense of melancholy and uncertainty.The difficult decision to cut teaching positions in Sarasota County reflects the broader challenges facing public education systems.Sarasota Today

Sarasota County Schools will be cutting 136 teaching positions for the 2026-27 school year due to declining student enrollment, which has resulted in reduced state funding for the district. The cuts will primarily impact teachers within their first year of employment, though some more experienced teachers may also be affected. District leaders say they are hopeful that open positions will allow them to reassign affected staff members.

Why it matters

Teacher layoffs can have significant impacts on the quality of education and student outcomes, as well as morale within the teaching profession. This situation highlights the challenges that school districts face in balancing budgets and staffing levels amidst fluctuating enrollment, competition from charter and private schools, and uncertain state funding.

The details

According to Sarasota County Schools, student enrollment has remained steady for years but is now starting to decline. District leaders say the cuts are driven by this enrollment decline, which translates to reduced state funding. The 136 teachers being cut include those within their first year of employment with the district, and potentially some teachers in their second or third year if there are surplus positions. School board member Tom Edward said the cuts didn't happen overnight, and Superintendent Terry Connor stated that the district will prioritize placing unassigned teachers in any open positions rather than hiring from outside.

  • Sarasota County Schools will be implementing the 136 teacher cuts for the 2026-27 school year.

The players

Rex Ingerick

Representative of the Sarasota Classified Teachers Association.

Terry Connor

Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools.

Tom Edward

Member of the Sarasota County School Board.

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What they’re saying

“I'm kind of heartbroken and sad that we couldn't take care of everyone.”

— Rex Ingerick, Representative of the Sarasota Classified Teachers Association

“We are hopeful that we continue to see increase enrollment across our schools. We want to make sure that every one of these affected staff members find a landing place right here within Sarasota County.”

— Terry Connor, Superintendent of Sarasota County Schools

“The ways that we've been trying this for the last couple of years has finally caught up.”

— Tom Edward, Member of the Sarasota County School Board

What’s next

The district says it will prioritize placing unassigned teachers in any open positions rather than hiring from outside, in an effort to retain experienced educators within the Sarasota County school system.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the challenges that school districts face in maintaining staffing levels and providing quality education amidst fluctuating enrollment, competition from charter and private schools, and uncertain state funding. The layoffs will likely have significant impacts on the Sarasota County teaching community and the quality of education for students.