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Southbridge, Mass., Schools Facing Job Cuts

Southbridge, Massachusetts, High School.
Henry Epp

The Southbridge, Massachusetts, schools are facing a loss of 30 jobs, including some teacher positions. This comes about a month after the state appointed a new receiver to try and improve district performance.

The Southbridge schools were taken over by the state in 2016 after it labeled the district chronically underperforming.

It now operates under a receiver -- basically a one-person school committee and superintendent.

Jeffrey Villar started in that position in early February.

He said that because of a budget gap, caused in part by significant underfunding in some accounts in previous years, job cuts are needed. He said they don't make his task of turning the district around any easier.

"Reducing the number of teachers across the district, of course, can increase class size and make more complexities, so that represents a significant challenge," Villar said.

Villar said he's reached out to foundations to try and bridge the gap.

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Before joining New England Public Media, Alden was a producer for the CBS NEWS program 60 Minutes. In that role, he covered topics ranging from art, music and medicine to business, education and politics.