FORTVILLE — A dozen fulltime teachers are receiving layoff notices at the Mt. Vernon School Corporation after action by the school board during the weekend. 

    They will depart at the end of the school year along with a pair of retiring teachers, one who resigned, and the elimination of two full-time janitors and two part-time instructional assistants. 

    MV Superintendent Bill Riggs said the corporation will realize a net savings of $810,000 after unemployment costs and the hiring of a social worker. 

    The layoffs allow the corporation to meet a reduction in spending mandated by Gov. Mitch Daniels in January. 

    As a result of the layoff, Mt. Vernon High School will be short one guidance counselor, two business education teachers, one art teacher and one family and consumer science teacher. 

    Seniority was the primary factor when considering which teachers to cut, Riggs said. When possible, teachers with more experience were moved to other buildings within the corporation to accommodate the recommendations. 

    Riggs said that the corporation may need to eliminate three to five more teachers should administrators be unable to reach a favorable agreement with the Classroom Teachers Association on a new master contract. 

    The school board, which met Saturday, exhorted the CTA to agree to freeze salaries and health insurance benefits for 2010-11. The corporation could then transfer $235,000 to help with general fund expenses, a move that could save as many as five teachers.
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