Philly schools may cut nearly 1,300 teachers
PHILADELPHIA — The Philadelphia public schools will have to cut 3,800 jobs — including almost 1,300 teachers — if the governor’s budget cuts are approved, the district said Wednesday.
The district also would have to end full-day kindergarten to help close its $629 million deficit, which includes a projected loss of $292 million in state aid, Chief Financial Officer Michael Masch said at a budget briefing.
In all, officials would have to lay off 16 percent of the district’s about 24,000 employees. Pink slips could go to hundreds of aides, custodians and central office staff, plus about 12 percent of the teachers, Masch said.
Gov. Tom Corbett has proposed more than $1 billion in education cuts to help close a multibillion-dollar budget gap.
The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the district also plans to increase class sizes and curb spending on transportation, special education, summer school, arts, music and sports.
The district serves about 154,000 students, not counting those in charter schools.
