HARTFORD – More than a dozen more layoffs were announced Wednesday afternoon, this time in the state’s Department of Education.
The 13 cuts come from a total state executive branch workforce of 31,200 as of March 31. In total, there have been 693 layoff notices as part of the budget-balancing effort.
According to a statement released by the state’s Office of Policy and Management, “It is important to note that notices regarding workforce reductions will occur over time. This is a difficult process, one that we aim to ensure is done respectfully and legally. As such, there will be additional reduction notices in the future. We will continue to notify the public as future notices go out.”
Notices were sent to employees within the State Department of Education. The employees who received notices will be laid off from their positions and be relieved of their duties at the close of business, according to the OPM.
According to the OPM, Wednesday’s layoffs are a result of federal changes where adult students in secondary schools will no longer have access to student financial aid and will no longer be able to pay tuition next academic year. Consequently, once the current cohort of students complete their coursework, the following programs will be ending in June 13: Medical Assistant at Platt Technical High School, Dental Assistant at Prince and Windham Technical High Schools, Certified Nursing Assistant at Whitney Technical High School, and Surgical Technologist at Prince and Whitney Technical High Schools.
Additionally, on April 6, the Nursing Board of Examiners voted to close the Licensed Practical Nurse Program at Vinal Technical High School due to the low number of students who achieve certification after completing the program, according to the OPM.
All of Wednessday’s layoff notices are within the vocational-technical school system:
3 staff, AI Prince Technical High School
3 staff, Eli Whitney Technical High School
2 staff, Platt Technical High School
3 staff, Vinal Technical High School
2 staff, WindhamTechnical High School
Total notifications to date as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday:
DCF: 127
DDS: 113
DECD: 4
DMHAS: 76
DOC: 187
DSS: 78
MIL: 1
OCME: 1
OGA: 4
SDE: 13
UCHC: 89
TOTAL: 693