PORT ANGELES — Three days after school district officials announced budget cuts, teachers are preparing for effects they expect on salaries and class sizes.
Union representatives also plan to ask district officials again to reconsider their decision to cut a teacher workday.
If the workday cut stands, teachers will lose a day’s pay, said Barry J. Burnett, president of the Port Angeles Education Association, the union representing teachers.
Burnett said union officials are concerned teachers are bearing the brunt of $1.7 million in budget cuts, noting elimination of a teacher work day constitutes a reduction in salary.
The cuts were needed to balance the fiscal 2002-03 budget, district officials have said.
“I am hoping they will reconsider this cut and step up to the plate and support the importance of the teacher workday,” Burnett said.
On Monday, the School Board approved reducing the number of teacher workdays from three to two, saving the district an estimated $71,000.
The board also approved cutting 12.1 teaching positions from its 280 full-time teacher positions.
Those cuts are expected to be 6.6 full-time high school teaching, 0.5 middle school and 5 elementary school positions.
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