Andover Public Schools could cut as many as 36 full-time budgets to close a $2.7 million budget gap attributed to the new contract the district signed after a three-day strike in November.
The layoffs are far from certain; the school system’s budget will be debated in a series of public sessions leading up to final approval by Annual Town Meeting in April. The district could also avoid some of the layoffs by not replacing employees who retire.
Last week the school committee reviewed some token measures aimed at closing the gap, including a 10 percent increase in the fine arts user fees that would raise about $9,000, and $316,000 in savings by cutting 5 percent from the district’s office supplies, student activities and contracted service’s line items, according to the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune, which first reported this story.
“It’s just a drop in the bucket,” said School Committee Chair Tracey Spruce, who is not seeking reelection in the annual town election in March.
For more on this story, see the Lawrence Eagle-Tribune.