New Haven teachers concerned for jobs

New Haven (WTNH) - These are nervous times for some teachers in New Haven. There are concerns they may have to take a pay cut in order to keep their jobs.

The teachers come out of the emergency meeting with Mayor John DeStefano after nearly two hours. It was a chance for them to find out just how bad things can get and what the mayor is doing to try and stop cuts to education.

Wilson: "Is he asking for you to give back part of your salary or to cut people?"

David Cicarella, President of the Teacher's Union: "No just the opposite. The salaries are one thing that he doesn't want to do. The salaries he wants to leave alone and avoid layoffs, so some of the questions are do you have any suggestions?"

Crunch time will come late February when the state education cuts filter down to New Haven. Right now, people here say the mayor is trying to work with the union and let them know there are tough times ahead.

"It's good to not surprise people and to talk to our employees and let them know what is going on," Mayor John DeStefano said. "Let them know that they are not going to solve this but they need to be part of the solution."

The meeting was not open to the public. News Channel 8 was not allowed in. But, the teacher said they felt the meeting was cordial and they were on the same side as the mayor to solve the budget problems. However, the teachers told News Channel 8 as they left they feel like they have more questions than answers.

"No answers," Monica Lynch, a teacher, said. "But I am hopeful they didn't come out and say okay our salaries are frozen. They didn't come out and say that so I am hopeful."

"We are hoping he wasn't hiding anything," Linzi Waterman, a teacher, said. "Hopefully he was honest with us and as a resident of New Haven county I hope our taxes don't go up."