Teachers Get the Axe in Eastern Pennsylvania

Facing a steep budget deficit, eastern Pennsylvania’s Easton Area School Board voted Monday to ax 72 teachers.

The Associated Press reports the cuts, which includes 27 high school teachers and the district’s computer technology coordinators, caused an uproar from the teacher’s union at the meeting. That’s because, according to union president Kevin Deely, the labor group had agreed to nearly $5 million in cost-cutting measures that includes a wage freeze and decreased tuition reimbursement.

“This is disgusting,” Deely said, according to the Lehighvalleylive.com. “We have worked countless hours trying to find ways to save the district money, and this is the best you can do? Cut 72 teachers?”

Superintendent Susan McGinley countered that even with the cuts the district would have to dip into its reserves, which wouldn’t work because of a looming state pension crisis.

Affected teachers are to be notified by mail by the end of the week.