The Rochester School Board voted Thursday night to lay off 109 city school teachers, 46 fewer than were first thought necessary to help balance the district’s budget gap.
Just before the meeting, school district officials announced the number of layoffs would be cut from more than 150 to 109, thanks to some unused state grant money. The district learned it would be allowed to use those funds to keep existing teachers on the job through June.
More than 90 people spoke for more than three hours at the board meeting, mostly parents, teachers and students opposed to the cuts. A rally before the meeting grew so large police had to shut down traffic on Broad Street in front of the RCSD Building.
School Superintendent Terry Dade said the cuts are painful but necessary, to close the deficit he inherited from the previous school administration. That shortfall would balloon to $65 million by the start of next school year if no action were taken.
