246 TEACHERS GET PINK SLIPS

The Lorain City Schools will be short about 250 teachers next year as they hand out 246 layoff notices. The District is in a position where they felt they had to make the cuts in an attempt to avoid a 5 million dollar deficit and a possible state takeover. Last Tuesday the teachers ratified a new contract that allows for the layoffs. The agreement should pay back the debt owed by the District and avoid the takeover. The District has also announced 1 million dollars in administrative cuts as well.

In a statement released by the District they blame the cost of charter schools and they believe they did not receive fair warning about the budget deficit.

Lorain City Schools is the tenth largest school district in Ohio and serves nearly 10,000 students with a diverse and unique population. Lorain City Schools posted one of the highest improvement rates in the entire state - fifth out of 613 school districts – on the 2003 proficiency tests and continues to have steady and notable improvement.