Marion County School Layoff Details:
261 employees have been notified that their positions will be eliminated next school year. This includes:
- 160 first-year teachers
- 72 district-funded elementary paraprofessionals,
- 16 clerk generalists at middle / high schools, and
- 13 district-funded physical education technicians.
These cuts alone amount to nearly $4 million. The remaining $25 million (of the needed $29 million in cuts) will come from other decisions including:
- Not filling Staffing Plan - $14 million
- Exceeding Class Size Limits - $7 million
- Restructuring elementary Art, Music, PE, and Media Services - $ 2.2 million
- Reassigning other employees - $1 million
The district expects $295 million in revenues for the new budget year, $13 million more than this year. However, this includes $7 million earmarked for teacher raises and $4 million for retirement expenses -- both mandated by the Florida Legislature.
With projected expenses of $324 million, the $29 million deficit resulted in historic moves for the district including layoffs, class sizes, and the elimination of paraprofessionals.
The budget process is on-going, and if more cuts are needed, possibilities include district-wide furlough days for employees and pay reductions across-the-board.
WFTV