Pennsylvania

Quakertown School District Considers School Closings, Layoffs to Close Budget Gap

More than 5,2000 students go to school in the Quakertown School District

Quakertown's school superintendent has proposed closing two schools and laying off 50 teachers as he works to close a nearly $5 million budget gap.

Superintendent William Harner tells The Philadelphia Inquirer the district of 5,240 students is in "a Catch-22 because of how tight funds are."

Parent Emily George calls the plan "horrible."

Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators director Mark DiRocco estimates a third of the state's districts continue to slash programs and faculty or increase class sizes to make ends meet. DiRocco blames higher teacher pension costs and the failure of state and federal school aid to keep pace.

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Copyright AP - Associated Press
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