By Bill Zeeble, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-772300.mp3
Dallas, TX – 150 non-contract or at-will workers have been laid off by the Dallas Independent School District. 63 central district workers were already let go last week as part of the district's cost saving measures.
The positions include teachers aids, clerks and others. They are part of the massive layoffs that will also include 550 teachers expected to be named, beginning next week. The layoffs will help cut into the district's $84 million deficit disclosed last month after administrators said they hired too many teachers and other staff due to accounting and software mistakes. Alliance/AFT union president Aimee Bolender says her organization will check closely to make sure laid off workers' rights are upheld.
Bolender: We are holding the district extrememly accountable and have every reason to be concerned that they're doing this correctly, so we'll look closely at this sort of thing
The school district is also offering early retirement to teachers, but will likely still carry a deficit into next year after trying all their budget cutting options.