Schools

Salem Teachers Agree To Furloughs To Balance $63 Million Budget

Teachers agreed to one-day furloughs, no wage increases and less professional development time to close a $3.1 million budget gap.

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Mayor Kim Driscoll, who also chairs the school committee had initially asked the teachers to agree to five days of furloughs and no wage increases​. The union's concessions allowed the school committee to avoid cutting 20 positions.
Mayor Kim Driscoll, who also chairs the school committee had initially asked the teachers to agree to five days of furloughs and no wage increases​. The union's concessions allowed the school committee to avoid cutting 20 positions. (Dave Copeland/Patch)

SALEM, MA — The Salem school committee approved a $63 million budget Monday for the fiscal year beginning July 1, closing a $3.1 million deficit resulting from the coronavirus crisis.

The union representing teachers in Salem agreed to one-day furloughs, no wage increases and less professional development time to help close the budget gap. The Salem News reported Mayor Kim Driscoll, who also chairs the school committee had initially asked the teachers to agree to five days of furloughs and no wage increases. The union's concessions allowed the school committee to avoid cutting 20 positions.

The school system budget is the biggest line item in the city budget, which city council will begin reviewing on Thursday.

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Related Story: Salem Mayor Using Furloughs To Balance Budget

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