Reading schools lay off more than 200 workers

The Reading School District is closing five schools, raising taxes and laying off more than 200 workers, including 108 teachers.

The district’s board voted 5-4 in favor of a $220.5 million spending plan on Wednesday night that includes the district’s first tax increase in almost a decade.

Administrators faced a budget gap of more than $40 million but cut it to just over $14 million by using reserve funds.

 

Four sixth-grade magnet schools and an elementary school will close under the new plan.

Also among the layoffs are 66 teaching assistants and 24 clerical workers.