Minidoka School District Releasing 11 Teachers

The Minidoka County School District is reeling from state budget cuts in education and the “Students Come First” initiative.  At a school board meeting this week board members approved the layoffs of 11 teachers in the district.  The board was hoping that attrition and retirements would account for most of the reduction in teaching staff in the district but that didn’t happen. The Times News reports the board deliberated for three hours before approving the layoffs.  Decreasing revenue over the past three years has forced the district into this position.  But board members said had it not been for conservative budget management and good decisions the layoffs would have numbered up around 30 instead.  Each of the teachers being cut will receive a hand-delivered notice by their school’s principal in the next few days.  The teachers will finish the current school year.  Some programs will also be cut but those won’t be announced until all parties involved in those programs are notified.