How does closing schools and laying off

teachers help educate our kids?

by JESSICA VESS / KVUE News
kvue.com
Posted on January 25, 2011 at 10:52 AM

Updated today at 11:19 AM
Related:
•AISD Board Brief - Jan. 24, 2011

The Austin ISD School Board approved a controversial job cut plan. It voted unanimously just before midnight Monday evening to eliminate 485 positions.

“I feel like I’ve gone through the seven stages of grief since I found out. Just numb and shock at first, and then crying,” O’Henry Middle School librarian Sarah Stevenson said.

The cuts are part of the solution to cover the district shortfall of about $113 million.

The board met at 7:00 p.m. Monday and opened the meeting up to public input. Teachers, staff and parents signed up to speak before the vote. Following the public testimony, the board debated among itself. The initial proposal called for 536 cuts.

http://www.kvue.com/news/Austin-School-Board-approves-plan-that-could-eliminate-485-positions-114536064.html

I am not in education and I have no kids, but I really do not understand how this works. We are overflowing at schools. Why are we closing and laying off teachers?