GREENVILLE, NC -- With the start of school just two weeks away, the effects of federal budget cuts have been weighing heavily on Pitt County schools. Dozens of teaching assistant positions have been cut from the county's Exceptional Children program.
Close to 1.5 million dollars was cut from the EC program, which is designed for students with disabilities. The cut is forcing Pitt County schools to eliminate positions, But the Director of the program stresses, while they *did* cut positions…they did *NOT* cut people.
Students may be enjoying the lazy days of summer, but for many teachers…summer break hasn’t been quite as relaxing. 56 positions teachers assistant positions had to be eliminated from Pitt County’s Exceptional Children program due to the rising costs in the economy and reduced funding.
"Surely we will miss them, we valued those employees and we'll miss them, its simply a budget situation and we had to focus the staff that we have on the students that require the most services," said Director, Cathy Keeter.
Keeter says 11 of TA’s who lost their positions were not invited back because of performance reasons, but the rest have been offered other state or locally funded positions within the school system.
"For everyome that wanted a position we have been able to find a position for them in the school district. So we've lost positions not necessarily people," she said. Adding, that parents need not worry.
"We're going to be all hands on deck to monitor and have those needs met and continue to do everything we can to provide the best curriculum, the technology, the related services that our students need. We're always going to put their needs first and foremost."
Keeter tells Nine on Your Side that with redistricting, the school system realizes that exact enrollment numbers are hard to predict. She says they will be monitoring classrooms the first couple weeks of school and putting additional staff in place if need be.
Three of the teachers whose positions were cut chose not to take the new positions available to them. The rest have either retired or are still deciding.
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