McNairy Co. Board of Education cuts 15 jobs from budget
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McNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn. — The McNairy County Board of Education voted Monday morning to eliminate 15 positions for the upcoming school year to balance their budget. Thirteen educational aides, a part-time maintenance employee and one custodian will be out of a job. Parents are disappointed. “I feel terrible. The school system is suffering enough like it is, and now you cut 15 jobs, and the kids are just going to suffer more,” parent and grandparent Scotty Scott said. “We need the education for our children. It’s our future.” Superintendent John Prince said he made calls personally to all 15 employees who won’t be returning in the fall. Prince wrote in a statement: “I am absolutely physically sick over having to cut a single position, let alone 15. Likewise, I would like to say that certified teacher cuts through attrition can only take us so far. I am hopeful that the leadership in McNairy County will see that the key to economic development is to invest heavily in education. There are now fifteen families in this county who have been added to the unemployment rolls. I am a firm believer in the fact that we cannot cut our way to prosperity.” In addition to the 15 positions being cut, Prince said the positions of five of seven retired teachers will be absorbed. The McNairy Regional Alliance said they are an aid to help these now unemployed men and women if needed. McNairy County will vote on their budget Monday, June 29.
