U-46 to lay off 7 from career and tech staff

Expecting a shortage in state funding, the Elgin Area School District U-46 board will be handing out pink slips to seven individuals working as career specialists in the five high schools' career and technical education departments.

"These are positions that are funded through the state's career and technical education grant," District spokesman Tony Sanders said. "We're unsure at this point whether the state is going to be able to live up to this obligation."

Sanders said a majority of the seven individuals hold part-time positions.

According to a board memorandum, the individuals selected for dismissal "have the shortest length of continuing service" within their departments. They will be "honorably dismissed" effective Jan. 8, and will not be re-employed for the 2010-11 school year.

If the state funding does come through before Jan. 8, Sanders said, the district plans to rehire those individuals.