265 teachers get layoff notices in Allentown

ALLENTOWN, Pa. - June 2, 2011

School officials distributed layoff notices to 265 teachers on Wednesday. That's about 18 percent of the district's teaching staff and more than the school board approved three months ago.

Deputy Superintendent Russ Mayo tells The Morning Call of Allentown not all those teachers will be laid off.

Allentown is set to receive $15.5 million less in state aid under next year's proposed budget but under state law teachers cannot be laid off for budgetary reasons.

The district says it is eliminating electives and making other program changes to raise test scores and reduce dropouts. Superintendent Gerald Zahorchak successfully asked the board in March to approve laying off 247 teachers as part of the Pathways to Success program.

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Information from: The Morning Call, http://www.mcall.com

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