Up to 55 Teachers to Lose Jobs in Hudson, New York Region

Officials of the Katonah-Lewisboro School District in New York State expect to lay off 25 to 30 public school teachers this week. As many as 55 teachers could lose their jobs due to budgetary concerns. New York Governor David Paterson’s proposed state budget cutting $1.4 billion in aid to local school districts will be a major budget difficulty in the coming year if it is implemented according to teacher union’s spokesman Carl Korn. The school district argues that it is cutting jobs to preserve as many as possible and points to scheduled teacher raises stipulated in the teachers unions contract as a factoring their decision. The teacher’s contract, which runs through June 30, 2011, provides a 3.5% raise increase in the 2010-11 school years. Half of all teachers in the district would receive additional “step” increases, raises tied to experience level and education. For some teachers this means an increase of 6.5% to 9%.