Charlotte Might Cut 1,500 Education Jobs (NC)

January 12, 2011

The school superintendent in North Carolina’s largest city is recommending the elimination of more than 1,500 jobs to deal with a huge budget shortfall.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Peter Gorman on Tuesday recommended cutting hundreds of teachers and assistants to deal with an expected $100 million budget shortfall.

Gorman also proposed making the school day longer and eliminating a preschool program for more than 1,000 children.

The cuts represent about 9 percent of the school district’s 16,000 employees. Gorman didn’t say exactly how many teachers might be cut.

Some board members said they don’t want to make the cuts, but have few options.

Gorman said the school district has cut or redirected $185 million during the past four years.