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Muhlenberg County Board of Education Approves Teacher Layoffs and Salary Cuts

Although the numbers are expected to change slightly over the next few months, the board agreed to cut 50 jobs and slice teachers' pay by 9.8%.

According to WBKO-TV, an estimated 500 people jammed into Muhlenberg County High School's auditorium Monday night, mostly teachers and their families opposed to the cuts. Both in their comments and on printed signs, members of the public said the cuts would lead to increased class sizes within the district and impact learning.

Superintendent Randy McCarty told the station that too much was built too quickly over the past ten years and that the district was overstaffed. That combined with several economic hits in the county led to the need for the cuts. McCarty also volunteered to take a 9.8% cut himself starting next year.

The board did propose a utility tax for Muhlenberg County to help ease the budget problem. That will come up for a vote January 22 and, if approved, would cut the pay cuts about in half.

The award-winning news team at WKU Public Radio consists of Dan Modlin, Kevin Willis, Lisa Autry, and Joe Corcoran.
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