Easton Area School Board hears breakdown of teaching staff cuts

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2012/04/easton_area_school_board_hears.html FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES Right before the Easton Area School Board voted on a 2.2 percent tax increase for the 2012-13 year, board members stopped to ask exactly what a 2.2 percent increase would mean for teachers. It would mean more than 75 positions could be cut or reduced, and board members wanted the specifics. “I haven’t seen an educational plan that goes along with those cuts. We all need to hear that. Where’s the plan of change?” said Board member Kerri Leonard-Ellison before she voted. Board member Janet Matthews also insisted on hearing the cuts before voting. Superintendent Susan McGinley gave an overview of the plan, which she said will be spread broadly enough to not affect academic merit or student performance on state testing. Reorganization at the middle school means eliminating the following positions: two science teachers, two history teachers, two math teachers, two English teachers, one reading teacher, three writing teachers, two PSSA math teachers, two interventionists and one health and physical education teacher. Four other classroom teachers could be cut, McGinley said.