ALTAMONTE SPRINGS -- Budget cuts were cited as the reason why 119 Seminole County teachers, counselors and aides learned Tuesday their jobs have been cut.
According to a School District spokesperson, the cuts only impacted teachers with annual contracts -- specifically, non tenured teachers who worked three years or less -- and teachers close to retirement.
Seminole Education Association president Gay Parker said the district already loses teachers every year to attrition, so the positions are critical.
"When you have 300 to 500 teachers that leave the system for personal reasons each year, we should have been able to accommodate every teacher," Parker said.
According to a School District spokesperson, 169 other support positions were are also eliminated, including administration and custodial jobs.
In all, 343 positions were cut this week in the Seminole County School District.
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