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Schools To Take Up Budget, Layoffs

The Boston school committee will vote Wednesday night on a budget that would layoff more than 500 school staff, including 212 teachers and teachers assistants.

A $20 million budget gap may force the city to let go teachers and central office staff. Teachers union president Richard Stutman says that would be hard on schools.

"It would mean a cut in electives primarily in the non-MCAS electives such as music and art and it wouldn't be a good thing for the city," Stutman says.

Mayor Thomas Menino says that if the teachers union accepts a wage freeze, the city could save all of the teaching jobs.

Stutman, however, believes the city has other funding options. The city plans to use more than half of its $30 million in federal stimulus money to pay for teachers. The rest will pay for training and equipment.

This program aired on March 25, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Bob Oakes

Bob Oakes Senior Correspondent
Bob Oakes was a senior correspondent in the WBUR newsroom, a role he took on in 2021 after nearly three decades hosting WBUR's Morning Edition.

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