By Sarah Campbell
scampbell@salisburypost.com
KANNAPOLIS ó A total of 118 people will be affected by the Kannapolis City Schools systemís reduction plan.
The plan slashes 26 teachers and 61 non-certified positions such as teacher assistants, custodial and office support.
These are the first lay offs the district has experienced since recessionary spending began three years ago.
Eighteen non-certified staff members as well as 13 certified including teachers and administrators and will face reduced pay from new schedules.
The Kannapolis School Board approved the plan Monday as submitted by Superintendent Dr. Pam Cain.
Cain said her team spent several months drafting the plan.
ěWe looked at services and programs to make sure that we maximized effectiveness nd efficency,î she said. ěWe also looked at cuts school by school to make sure we preserved equity.î
The loss of federal stimulus money and substantial state cuts forced the layoffs as a means to fill an estimated $2.1 million shortfall.
ěItís not a place any of us wants to be, but itís a reality,î she said.
Millie Hall, who has been serving on the school board for 33 years, called Mondayís action one of the hardest decisions sheís ever made.
ěI donít know if Iíve ever cried and prayed so hard since this has become reality,î she said.
Hall said in the past itís been tough to slash programs and move employees to different positions, but these cuts hit hard.
ěTo cut someoneís livelihood has just broken my heart,î she said.
Described as a ěworst-case scenarioî snapshot of the upcoming fiscal year, Cain said if the state budget ends up being less severe than expected some laid off workers could be called back.
ěWeíve been told to plan for the worst and hope for the best and thatís what weíre doing,î Cain said. ěWe hope our final budget will be better than expected and that we can keep our people in place.î
Those affected by the plan will be notified in person today.
School board member Todd Adams said he doesnít want the lay offs to be viewed by the community as a the ěwhite flag of surrender.î
ěWeíve been telling people to contact their legislations and they still need to do that,î he said. ěWe need to make sure that the people in Raleigh know what we need.
ěWe need to keep fighting as long as we can fight.îë
Hall echoed Adams, urging people to call, e-mail or go see their legislators.
ěDo whatever you have to do,î she said.
Cain showed two videos that the district has made to send to legislators, asking them to spare education.
ěWe need to remind them that we all want to protect our childrenís education, but there is no way we can make cuts this large without affecting classrooms,î she said.
Those videos can be viewed online at kannapolis.k12.nc.us by clicking budget information on the right.
Cain also told board members about the N.C. Association of Educatorsí ěOne Voiceî rally set for May 3 in Raleigh.
The district is planning to send two busses and organize car pools for the event.
ěWe want to do everything we can to prevent these cuts from becoming a full reality,î Cain said. ěWeíre going to Raleigh and weíre going to make a difference for our children and for us.î
Contact reporter Sarah Campbell at 704-797-7683.