Catoosa Public Schools Approves Layoffs For 7 Staff Members

The Catoosa Public School system says they will be laying off seven staff members.

The board gave its approval to the superintendent’s recommended cuts Monday night during a school board meeting. 

It was a packed house Monday night as parents and teachers voiced their frustration for those anticipated cuts. During the public comment section parents talked about not having enough transparency with the process.

One teacher spoke about her concern for teacher morale and about how she believes these cuts are going to affect the students themselves.

Ultimately the board all voted in favor of cutting one Central Office Administrator position, one Middle school Assistant Administrator position, one Elementary School Assistant Administrator position, and four Clerical positions.

The board also voted to change two Clerical positions from 12 months to 11 months. One of the educators who is losing her job is Cherokee Elementary School Assistant Principal Dr. Andrea Williams.  

"I'd be lying if I said I was not shocked hurt and dismayed at the events that have transpired over the last week. I felt like I had been kicked in the gut by my best friend," said Cherokee Elementary School Assistant Principal Dr. Andrea WIlliams in front of a packed crowd.

Superintendent Alicia O'Donnell said the cuts are due to statewide funding issues and a drop in enrollment across Catoosa schools. She also said the cuts and changes in contracts will reduce the district’s payroll by about $376,000.

"We want to protect class size, we want to protect student academic programs we want to protect things for students I mean we are here because of students and that's what we want to protect unfortunately that means that you look at administrative positions and you look at clerical positions its a sad day all around," said O'Donnell 

The changes take effect on July 1st. After speaking with the Superintendent News On 6 asked the remaining board members if they would like to comment publicly. They declined.