Superintendent warns of possible layoffs for Johnston County Schools

SMITHFIELD -- Johnston County Schools could lose 113 teachers and about 20 teacher assistants next school year, although officials expect to gain about 700 more students, the superintendent said Tuesday.

The warning came as part of Superintendent Ed Croom’s local-budget proposal to school board members. Croom said schools need about $57.1 million from the county. That’s nearly $896,000 more than schools got last year.

The state pays for teachers, and Croom said that along with more than 100 teachers and teacher assistants, the system could lose money for two career and technical educators, two assistant principals and about 12 custodians.

The school system avoided layoffs this school year because enough people retired or quit. Croom said he hopes there will be no layoffs again.

“It’s getting harder and harder to not lose warm-bodied people,” he said.

School board chairman Larry Strickland said teachers whose jobs could get cut would be first in line to fill spots vacated by retiring teachers.

The school board is expected to vote on a local-budget proposal next month.