ANDERSON, Ind. — Anderson Community Schools will eliminate 200 or more jobs in the coming school year as the district continues to deal with multi-million-dollar budget deficits even after the coming consolidation of schools.
That equals about one of every five ACS jobs that could be cut next school year.
Superintendent Felix Chow said on Thursday that notices would be mailed next week to an estimated 125 teachers, not all of whom would be laid off. According to the teachers union contract, the schools must notify any teachers who might be subject to layoff by March 24.
“As soon as the date we send out all the notices and summarize that for the (school) board, then it becomes public,” Chow said. “We are still finalizing it.”
Chow said the number of positions eliminated could “easily” surpass 200 — 100 or more teachers and the rest in support jobs.
Anderson Federation of Teachers President Rick Muir said Thursday that he was uncertain of the number of teachers who would be laid off, but “it’s going to be far more than myself or anyone else would like to see.”
Muir said he had been told by ACS administrators that elementary school teachers who were hired in 2003 or later would receive notices by March 24. Muir said he had not been given information about who would receive notices at the middle and high school level.
For teachers who receive notices, “It doesn’t mean they’re (going to be) laid off,” Muir said. “They have to get a second one later.”
If teachers don’t receive a notice by March 24, their jobs are considered safe for the next school year, he said.
The cuts come on top of a school consolidation that next year will make Anderson the district’s lone high school. Highland High School will be converted to a middle school, and Edgewood, Forest Hills, Killbuck and 29th Street elementary schools will close.
Chow said he planned to formally announce the layoffs next week, but that the schools had little choice but to make drastic cuts.
“If we do nothing, the system will be $22 million in debt” by 2011, according to projections. “At that point, we’ll be done for,” Chow said, and subject to a possible takeover by the state.
“The question to come to our board is, do we want to make the hard decisions for ourselves or let the state come in and make the decisions for us?” Chow said.
Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com.
Local Education
Related Photos
-
John P. Cleary
Related Links
Discussion
Chow: ACS to shed 200 jobs
Teachers will get first notices soon
- Local Education
-
-
Adult education GED classes offered
Anderson Community Schools is offering classes in GED preparation, English Language classes and Basic Education Refresher classes for the 2011-12 school year.
-
ACS taking a look at its dress code
The Anderson Community School Corp. dress code that many parents have argued against may see some slack in the near future.
-
McGhee sworn in as newest member of ACS board
New Anderson Community Schools board member Danny McGhee was sworn in with a group of community members there in his support Tuesday.
-
South Madison board interviews 4 finalists
The search went from 12 to four, and on Thursday, only one will remain to fill the vacancy of the South Madison Community School Corp. board.
-
Proposed bill would streamline college credit transfer process
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
-
Shift to online learning raises questions about costs to schools
Legislation that would require high school students in Indiana to take at least one online course is meeting resistance from some school administrators who say they can’t afford any more mandates from the state.
-
Wall Street atmosphere alive at AU
Surrounded by a stock market ticker and television screens showing the latest stock prices and world financial news, Federico Boscaini purchased 230 shares of Chevron stock for more than $24,000. He did it in a financial stock trading room at Anderson University — and with university funds.
-
NCLB loses grip on Indiana
Indiana is one of the first 10 states in the nation to receive a waiver from President Barack Obama’s administration for certain requirements within No Child Left Behind. That spells change for local districts.
-
In a roundabout way
If all goes well, construction for a new roundabout at the intersection of Indiana 38 and County Road 300 West near Pendleton Heights Middle School could begin by the middle of next year.
-
Search for history on Mars
Greg McCauley will discuss a Mars mission at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Pendleton Public Library, 595 E. Water St. The 45-minute talk featuring multimedia is free and open to the public.
- More Local Education Headlines
-
Adult education GED classes offered
