Teachers in Berks County attended a meeting tonight in the midst of looming layoffs. On Tuesday the Reading School District announced it was eliminating 170 teaching positions. As a result, 110 teachers have been laid off while the rest are going into early retirement.
On Wednesday night, the Reading Education Association held an informational session for the laid off and retired teachers. The Association plans to help them with unemployment and health benefits and to possibly get their jobs back.
The District says the cuts are being made due to the $40 million deficit they’re facing in the 2012-13 budget. The Reading Eagle reports the cuts were unveiled after the board passed a $219.6 million tentative budget. The final budget must be passed by the end of June.
