Pink slips could lead to layoffs in New London schools

NEW LONDON, Conn. (WTNH) -- Most years school departments do have to send out a number of pink slips in the Spring just in case there is not enough funding for the following year. In New London, however, there is a real fear the 65 slips could lead to layoffs.

Non-tenured teachers are put on notice in New London. That means literacy coaches, as well as a strength and conditioning coach could be laid off. Superintendent Nicholas Fischer spreads the wealth or lack of it among every department and program.

"Anywhere you have to cut people who are in involved in instruction can make a huge difference," said Dr. Nicholas Fisher, Superintendent of Schools, "and we're very concerned about that."

However, he says he doesn't have a choice. He needs a 10 percent budget increase just to maintain what he has and it looks like he'll get less than two percent.

"The school systems nowadays are already short handed enough," said Marcy Morgan, parent.

Morgan's son Jaiden is in the second grade. She is hoping the city can come up with more money for the school department. The superintendent says parents have to speak up.

"I think that the public needs to get involved because to be very honest with you, the people that the city council tends to hear from the most are the people who don't want to pay any new taxes," said Dr. Fischer.

The city's finance department will vote on the budget Wednesday night and then the city council gets it Monday night, but it may not be until June 30th that the school department knows just how much money it has to work with. That's when it finds out about state and federal funding.