Ohio's two largest public school districts plan to eliminate a total of more than 1,400 jobs to close projected budget gaps.
Cleveland administrators proposed eliminating 873 employees - including more than 600 teachers - in the latest round of budget cuts in the district, Ohio's largest with more than 72,000 students.
In Columbus, second in size in Ohio with more than 63,000 students, 566 employees have accepted early leave offers, but the number wasn't enough to avert layoffs.
Because numbers could change, the Columbus school board voted Tuesday to approve laying off 337 employees who received notices two weeks ago.
The incentive program is open to employees with at least 15 years with the district. Those who are retirement-eligible will receive a year's pay, paid over five years, and those ineligible for retirement will receive a year's salary paid over eight years.
The cuts will erase $66 million of a projected $86 million deficit for 2004-05 in Columbus schools, which have 12,573 employees.
Cutting 618 teaching positions in Cleveland would save $61.5 million.
17 Archives
The Associated Press
