At a special meeting Tuesday night, the Jennings County School Board members approved the cancellation of contracts for 13 elementary teachers and two physical education and health teachers.
After seeing a drop in enrollment at nearly all schools, Jennings County School Corporation (JCSC) officials announced that JCSC was currently employing more teachers than they expected to need next year. They also factored in cuts from the state's tax support and suggested teaching positions, along with some certified staff positions, be cut.
The teachers received "notice of consideration of cancellation" in April. At Tuesday's meeting, those cancellations were approved. However, that doesn't mean the teachers may not be coming back to work in Jennings County's schools for the 2011-12 school year, according to Dr. Michael Bushong, JCSC superintendent.
"If we see an increase in student enrollment we may ask some of the teachers back," Bushong said. "There are some schools that have a bubble in enrollment. If more students show up (for the start of the new school year), we will need additional teachers."
In addition, six classified staff members have been laid off, effective at the end of the 2010-11 school year.
All of the positions are being cut as part of cost-cutting measures to make up for the state of Indiana's funding cuts, said the school board.
© 2024 North Vernon Plain Dealer and Sun