12 Kankakee Valley School Corp. teachers receive school RIF notices

WHEATFIELD -- Twelve teachers in the Kankakee Valley School Corp. have received notice their jobs have been eliminated as part of the district's attempt to trim close to $1 million from its budget, according to officials.

Corporation officials had threatened the cuts when the Kankakee Valley Teachers Association and School Board could not come to an agreement on cutting teachers salaries to save money.

Assistant Superintendent Sharon Sanelli said 12 of the original 31 teachers who received notice their jobs may be eliminated were given notice Thursday and Friday. The teachers were in physical education, art and family and consumer science.

The school corporation begins spring break Monday. Officials have until April 1 to notify teachers their jobs have been eliminated and will have three days after spring break to provide notification.

Officials expect to cut between 21 and 25 teaching positions, about 12 percent of the workforce. They said the cuts are necessary because teachers did not agree to a 4 percent pay cut that would have helped the district slash its budget.

Negotiations between the union and School Board broke down March 11.

At the time, the board rejected alternative cost-cutting measures presented by teachers and the teachers would not accept a cut in pay.

The two sides are now headed for mediation.