Northport BOE to Vote on Teacher Layoffs

Eighteen teachers in the Northport-East Northport School District may have their positions eliminated Monday night as the proposal is put before the  Board of Education for a vote.

A projected decrease in enrollment by 189 students next year has prompted the proposed elimination of six teachers in the elementary schools, with 12 full-time positions being excessed overall. The remaining positions span departments in the middle schools and high school.

Northport High School students have vowed to continue their fight against staffing cuts to the district's art program and will be present at the meeting.

The coalition of more than 30 students have gathered community support and are now encouraging additional students to sign up for art classes in what they say "is a number's game" that will ultimately spare teacher jobs.

Superintendent Marylou McDermott has said that caps of 21 students per class will be maintained. In the high school, Assistant Superinendent for Human Resources Dr. Tom Caramore said that similar classes may be combined under one teacher in an approach called "co-seating."

A public hearing on the finalized 2013-2014 budget will be held prior to the vote on eliminated positions. The final $156,596,051 budget represents a 1.72 percent increase in spending and a 1.98 percent increase in the tax levy.

The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the William Brosnan Building.