Teachers and parents filled the Shelton Intermediate School auditorium Tuesday night, bracing for bad news.
"How they are going to lay off anybody from elementary school side where my children attend, I don't see any fat there," said Chris Panek of Shelton, a father of three children who attend Shelton schools.
But with a $700,000 budget deficit for this school year, the Shelton Board of Education reluctantly approved mid-school year layoffs, part of the deficit mitigation plan recommended by Superintendent Freeman Burr.
"We have a very close knit, very strong family feeling in each of the schools and it's been devastating this week in the schools," said Teacher's Union President Deborah Keller.
The plan calls for up to nine certified staff to lose their jobs, saving the school district $150,000.
Up to 60 non-certified staff will also be let go, including about 20 reading assistants, 18 tutors and as many as three paraprofessionals, in a move that saves the district $540,000.
"It should never come down to kids in the classroom losing out, that's the bottom line," said Denise Turecek, a retired teacher from Shelton.
"I think you can get rid of patronage jobs and get rid of Central Office people and put them back in schools where they belong," said Mark Widomski of Shelton.
Superintendent of Schools Freeman Burr said a drop in state funding and increased special education costs brought about the deficit.
"That is the major reason we're facing this situation right now, unfunded mandates in that area," Burr said.
Board of Education Chairman Tim Walsh says the number of layoffs would have been less, if the various unions had agreed to take two furlough days.
All but the administator's union voted the proposal down.
But some question how layoffs became the answer.
"The budget was set, salaries were taken care of, that should not even be a consideration at this point," Turecek said.
The Board also voted to ask city officials for help, but whether the city has the money to save the day remains to be seen.
Superintendent Burr said he hopes to meet with all the unions again before the end of the week.
If they still reject the furlough proposal, the layoffs will take effect on January 15.
