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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowSchool districts across Indiana are laying off thousands of teachers in the wake of state education funding cuts.
Indiana State Teachers Association spokesman Mark Shoup said Friday the union forecasts up to 5,000 teachers may lose their
jobs. That's about 8 percent of public school teachers statewide.
State schools Superintendent Tony Bennett said he believed districts would be able to reduce spending without layoffs when
he and Gov. Mitch Daniels announced the $300 million funding cut in December.
But Shoup said that wasn't realistic because salaries and benefits make up the largest chunk of the school budget.
Bennett questioned whether all school districts have fully explored budget-cutting alternatives.
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