Ten teacher jobs saved in Salem; officials hope to save more

January 17, 2008 02:20 PM Email| Comments (0)| Text size – +

By Erin Ailworth, Globe Staff

At least 10 Salem public school teaching jobs "definitely" will be saved, following a flood of donations totaling more than $180,000, Mayor Kim Driscoll announced today.

In recent days, the district has laid off more than two dozen teachers as well as a larger number of paraprofessionals, clerks, librarians, and other staff, in an effort to close a $4.7 million midyear budget deficit.

The donations came from a variety of sources, including individuals, businesses and community groups.

"We are not stopping there," Driscoll said during a news conference at a local bank. She said city workers also would be asked to take a one- to two-day furlough, in an effort to help the city save an additional $200,000. That would save approximately 10 more teaching positions.

The School Department is also going to work with union officials to offer early retirement incentives in hopes of shedding some employees and thus saving more money.

School and city officials first began fearing layoffs late last year, when the city's auditing firm, Powers & Sullivan, discovered a deficit in the school budget that they blamed in part on former school business manager Bruce Guy.

Guy, who has not returned Globe requests for an interview, left his job at the end of September, following the school board's decision not to renew his three-year contract.