St. Paul Public Schools avoids teacher layoffs after school board proposal

The St. Paul school board has approved a plan to avoid teacher layoffs.

In a 6-1 vote Friday, the school board approved a plan to use district funds and early retirements to avoid layoffs of English learner teachers.

READ MORE: St. Paul schools propose early retirements to avoid teacher cuts

The layoffs were discussed because of a reported drop in English learner students in the St. Paul Public Schools system, with 542 fewer English learner students this year.

School officials said the attendance drop is largely due to Operation Metro Surge.

Because of the lower attendance, the district has to make up for $4.9 million in lost funding, with initial proposals calling for 16 English learner teachers to be cut.

Superintendent Dr. Stacie Stanley presented a plan with no...