OGDEN, Utah - Twenty librarians in the Ogden School District could be out of a job.
The twenty Library Media Specialists were called to a mandatory meeting on Friday morning where they were told that their contracts won't be renewed and their positions will no longer exist starting July 1.
According to the superintendent, Ogden School District entered the 2012-2013 school year with a $2.7 million deficit. He said they've avoided cutbacks in past years, but they finally have to do it this year.
"We've just come through the most severe economic downturn since the Great Depression. Our school district over the past 5 years, we've not reduced staff, we've not reduced personnel, we've not cut programs, we've not increased class sizes, we've not furloughed students or teachers and we've also not increased taxes," said Brad Smith, superintendent.
But members of Utah's chapter of the American Federation of Teachers say the cost-saving measure is only hurting children.
The school board still has to approve the cuts in June. If approved, the district plans to replace the positions with part-time staff working 3.5-hour shifts and have two licensed media specialists working at the district level.
