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A dozen teachers losing their jobs, school closing

By Noah Bond

CAIRO, Ill. - The Cairo School Board voted to close Bennett Elementary and layoff 26 employees.

Superintendent Leotis Swopes says there is no other way to balance the District's budget. He says it's losing more than $100,000 a year in state aid as about 22 students on average move out of his District every year.

The layoffs include twelve teachers, 9 teacher's aids, 2 secretaries, 2 custodians and 1 administrator. District leaders are preparing to move classrooms for about 145 students from Bennett Elementary across town to Emerson Elementary this summer. Students will finish their school year at Bennett and start attending Emerson in the fall.

Bennett Elementary was built in 1949. It has since become a symbol of education in Cairo. Many parents remember attending school in the Building. They will not only say good-bye to it, they will also say good-bye to many of the teachers inside.

Robyn Mouser teaches sixth-grade students in the School. She is one of 12 teachers who will lose a job, but she's not offended. The layoffs are based on seniority. She has only taught two years in Cairo. "I felt kind of disappointed, but I know that God brought me here and I know that God is going to bring me out of this situation," said Mouser.

Teachers like Mouser are making this news hard for parents like Shataka Jangjirawat. Mouser teaches her daughter, "I wish they could go here you know to get the benefits of the teachers and the environment," said Jangjirawat.

Students and teachers at Bennett Elementary enjoys an average of 14 students per teacher. Class sizes will grow to about 20 students per teacher next year at Emerson Elementary after teachers like Mouser are laid-off. "I love this School. I wouldn't ask to be anywhere else. This is where my heart is," said Mouser.

"Having to look people in the face and knowing you've impacted their life in a very serious way. It's difficult, but I think its the right thing to do for the District," said Superintendent Swopes.

He said there is no other way to balance the District budget. "If he were to call me or send me a letter and say Robyn we would like you back. I would be back in a heart beat," said Mouser.

A painful decision based on hard numbers, which would not add up with out laying off employees and closing a school.