As a result of possible layoffs in teaching positions at area elementary schools, Eastern education students will feel the effect of fewer job opportunities in the area.

Recently, the Charleston PTA recently announced proposed reductions in teaching positions in three Charleston elementary schools for the 2002-2003 school year.

The reasons for the possible cutbacks in teacher positions were a result of a lack of money in their education funds, which is primarily for teacher’s salaries, Kathy Armstrong, president of the PTA, said Monday.

Armstrong said the lack of funding began with this year’s slow economy which caused state budget problems; therefore affecting funding from the state towards Mark Twain, Carl Sandburg and Jefferson Elementary Schools.

“I just wish we had more money,” she said.

In addition, enrollment in those schools has decreased by approximately 200 to 300 students in the past five years, creating an additional loss of revenues.

“(It’s) steady income that isn’t there anymore,” she said. “We’re an aging community maybe.”

Armstrong said these reductions will cause less teachers available for student teaching. However, their amount of opportunity for student teachers will not be affected, Doug Bower, associate dean of the College of Education and Professional Studies, said Monday.

Bower said that even though there are Eastern students student teaching at schools expecting the position cuts, the proposed reduction of positions will not affect the student teaching opportunities for students.

Armstrong said that the proposed reductions will affect the amount of jobs available in the area for Eastern education graduates.

“There are wonderful young teachers out there and I hate to see this,” she said.

However, because of the statewide teacher shortage Armstrong said there will be jobs available elsewhere but newly hired teachers are the first to feel the effects of budget problems.

“I don’t think teachers are going to have a hard time finding a job, just not in this area,” she said. “I can’t imagine they’d be hiring.”

Although Armstrong said there are significant funding holes, no reductions or cuts in departmental funding have been decided on yet.

“They’re being very conservative with their guesstimate,” she said.

A forum to discuss the possible cutback of teaching positions will be held Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Jefferson School in the Media Center.

The forum will discuss the proposed reductions before the Board of Education makes a final decision on the budget at its next meeting on March 20.