Pender schools staring at cutbacks

Financial strains at the state level could mean deep cuts for Pender County schools.

The school district faces an eleven percent reduction in state funding, meaning the county would loose nearly four million dollars.

The biggest blow, more than 30 teachers and 19 teaching assistants could be laid off.

Cutbacks could also affect the central office staff and funding for textbooks.

The district is still under a hiring freeze and not filling any vacant positions.