Mishawaka schools preparing to cut jobs

MISHAWAKA ‒ The Indiana State Teachers Association says up to 20 Mishawaka teachers could soon be out of work. Like nearly every other school district in the state, Mishawaka is facing a major budget crisis. By 2011, the district has to cut more than $4.5 million from its budget. And, according to the school corporation, when dealing with that much money it's impossible to save every job. The teacher's union is working with the school corporation to figure out the best way to deal with this situation. Superintendent Steve Mills says his two main priorities are to keep programs running and to save jobs. The corporation hasn't decided what will be cut. One proposal is to ask teachers to volunteer to take a year or two unpaid time off. Another is to give incentives for teachers to take early retirement. "They're going to, over the next two years, be short over $4.5 million unless they do something to cut programs, teachers, conserve energy, all those things that are required when you don't have money,” said Marie Giese of the Indiana State Teachers Association. The school corporation will hold another work session February11. The deadline to notify teachers they may be laid off is April 23. The state has taken other steps to cut spending. They sent checklists to all the school district, outlining what schools can do to cut back on spending. The superintendent said that Mishawaka did nearly everything on the list, but since 85 percent of its funding is for salaries, there will have to be job cuts.