Anderson Community Schools to shed 200 jobs to deal with multi-million dollar deficits

ANDERSON­ — Anderson Community Schools will eliminate 200 or more jobs in the coming school year as the district continues to deal with multi-million-dollar budget deficits even after the coming consolidation of schools.

That equals about one of every five ACS jobs that could be cut next school year.

Superintendent Felix Chow said on Thursday that notices would be mailed next week to an estimated 125 teachers, not all of whom would be laid off. According to the teachers union contract, the schools must notify any teachers who might be subject to layoff by March 24.

“As soon as the date we send out all the notices and summarize that for the (school) board, then it becomes public,” Chow said. “We are still finalizing it.”

Chow said the number of positions eliminated could “easily” surpass 200 — 100 or more teachers and the rest in support jobs.

Anderson Federation of Teachers President Rick Muir said Thursday that he was uncertain of the number of teachers who would be laid off, but “it’s going to be far more than myself or anyone else would like to see.”

Muir said he had been told by ACS administrators that elementary school teachers who were hired in 2003 or later would receive notices by March 24. Muir said he had not been given information about who would receive notices at the middle and high school level.

For teachers who receive notices, “It doesn’t mean they’re (going to be) laid off,” Muir said. “They have to get a second one later.”

If teachers don’t receive a notice by March 24, their jobs are considered safe for the next school year, he said.

The cuts come on top of a school consolidation that next year will make Anderson the district’s lone high school. Highland High School will be converted to a middle school, and Edgewood, Forest Hills, Killbuck and 29th Street elementary schools will close.

Chow said he planned to formally announce the layoffs next week, but that the schools had little choice but to make drastic cuts.

“If we do nothing, the system will be $22 million in debt” by 2011, according to projections. “At that point, we’ll be done for,” Chow said, and subject to a possible takeover by the state.

“The question to come to our board is, do we want to make the hard decisions for ourselves or let the state come in and make the decisions for us?” Chow said.

That equals about one of every five ACS jobs that could be cut next school year.

Superintendent Felix Chow said on Thursday that notices would be mailed next week to an estimated 125 teachers, not all of whom would be laid off. According to the teachers union contract, the schools must notify any teachers who might be subject to layoff by March 24.

“As soon as the date we send out all the notices and summarize that for the (school) board, then it becomes public,” Chow said. “We are still finalizing it.”

Chow said the number of positions eliminated could “easily” surpass 200 — 100 or more teachers and the rest in support jobs.

Anderson Federation of Teachers President Rick Muir said Thursday that he was uncertain of the number of teachers who would be laid off, but “it’s going to be far more than myself or anyone else would like to see.”

Muir said he had been told by ACS administrators that elementary school teachers who were hired in 2003 or later would receive notices by March 24. Muir said he had not been given information about who would receive notices at the middle and high school level.

For teachers who receive notices, “It doesn’t mean they’re (going to be) laid off,” Muir said. “They have to get a second one later.”

If teachers don’t receive a notice by March 24, their jobs are considered safe for the next school year, he said.

The cuts come on top of a school consolidation that next year will make Anderson the district’s lone high school. Highland High School will be converted to a middle school, and Edgewood, Forest Hills, Killbuck and 29th Street elementary schools will close.

Chow said he planned to formally announce the layoffs next week, but that the schools had little choice but to make drastic cuts.

“If we do nothing, the system will be $22 million in debt” by 2011, according to projections. “At that point, we’ll be done for,” Chow said, and subject to a possible takeover by the state.

“The question to come to our board is, do we want to make the hard decisions for ourselves or let the state come in and make the decisions for us?” Chow said.