Job Cuts Revised at Pocono Mountain School District

This time teachers know what is at stake and it isn't pretty. Earlier this month, school district administrators announced 295 jobs would be cut. At Wednesday night's meeting at Pocono Mountain West High School- people whose jobs could be on the line rallied.

They urged the board not to go through with job cuts they say could cripple the district. Robert Marowitz of Tobyhanna is worried about the quality of his son's education. "These budget cuts are going to make him fail," he said.

Teachers fear for the future. "They were taking away all the safeguards we worked so hard to build up in our district," said Tom Brogan, a teacher in the school district and Treasurer of the Pocono Mountain Educational Association.

The president of the state teacher's union says the proposed cuts are some of the worst in Pennsylvania. "This is absolutely devastating. The governor's budget is just so cruel and callous. It is unbelievable," said Michael Crossey, President of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

The district's administration says it is faced with a multi-million dollar deficit and while it hurts to make cuts, something needs to be done. Administrators unveiled new numbers in their proposed cuts- they addressed large class sizes in one school and added 18 teachers back.

"We heard concerns about the West Junior High. In particular, about possibly up to 30 students in a class. So what we've done is gone back and we've added some teachers into that," said Wendy Frable from Pocono Mountain School District.

The board will make a decision May 16th. The cuts are contingent upon whether the board decides to close three schools in the district.