(Rochester, N.Y.) – More than 100 Rochester City School District teachers are about to get pink slips.
On Thursday, the school board approved laying off 116 teachers. The school budget called for 420 jobs cuts across all positions. The affected personnel are now being identified for layoffs.
Among the layoffs were 9 music teachers, 9 physical education teachers and 9 art teachers. Teachers union president Adam Urbanski said those subjects are not mandated in the primary grades to be taught by certified teachers.
“It’s really a huge, huge blow to education in city schools if music teachers, phys ed teachers, art teachers are eliminated or reduced in the elementary grades,” said Urbanski.
He predicted that many teachers, but not all, will be quickly hired back because of the wave of retirements prompted by the state’s retirement incentive.
“Given the fact that more openings will be created and needed by the early retirement incentive, I’m confident that most of these teachers can and will be restored,” Urbanski said.
