Columbus Public Schools Superintendent Gene Harris says contracts with 316 teachers will be suspended or not renewed after June 30 of this year. Most of the terminated positions will come from elementary and middle schools because they have seen the greatest decline in enrollment. Harris says the cuts are part of the $28 million plan approved by the board in February.
"This is not new," Harris says. "This is part of that $28 million reduction that we put together. The Board approved that, and right now what we are doing is implementing that."
Harris says declining enrollment and building closures left the district with no other options. An additional 153 teachers have entered into what the district calls a limited seperation plan. The plan offers severance pay of $50,000 paid over five years. Harris says the layoffs and severance packages will save the district more than $24 million.
