Teachers' union president predicts 1,000 layoffs

Tom Dooher
Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher, speaking to reporters at the Capitol Wednesday morning.
MPR Photo/Tom Weber

The head of the state's teachers union says as many as a thousand Minnesota teachers and other staff could lose their jobs, even with a new state budget that keeps education funding flat.

But Education Minnesota President Tom Dooher also says he's glad schools weren't among the many programs that will see budget cuts.

"Flat funding is better, but we lost the roof," Dooher said at a news conference at the Capitol. "Our neighbors may have lost their house. And it's no reason to celebrate.

"Our kids' needs haven't changed and they're not going to change next fall."

Dooher says schools are now waiting to see how much of their state aid will be delayed and whether that will force them to take out short-term loans to meet cash needs. Governor Pawlenty says he might use school payment delays to help balance the state's budget.

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