NHC Schools to lay off 51 positions across the board | News

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WECT) - Members of the Board of Education voted to lay off 51 district employees at its meeting Tuesday night.  Board member Elizabeth Redenbaugh said the employees are paid out of state funds.

According to Superintendent Dr. Tim Markley, the eliminated positions can be anything across the board from custodians to secretaries or teacher assistants.

He said letters will be placed in employees mailboxes so that workers will know Thursday morning if they will lose their jobs.

The district is facing a $17.5 million reduction in its budget from federal, state and county sources. This equals 8 percent of the district's operating budget.

Markley says he does hope Governor Beverly Perdue will veto the budget.

"Unless there's a drastic change in that budget, I don't see any change coming down the road," said Markley. "Now, hopefully, we'll work with county commissioners and be able to get some relief."

The district is planning to cut 191 jobs as a result of these reductions. They cut 250 jobs over the past two years as well.  Markley told Governor Bev Perdue in a meeting Tuesday afternoon that there's not much else the district can cut at this point.

"Our lottery funds are for capital projects," explained Markley.  "That's the only source we have to do maintenance and repairs. Because we haven't received capital dollars from the county in the last three years."

Markley said they would rehire those who are being laid off to fill any future positions before hiring people outside the school system.

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