The Benton Harbor Board of Education met Tuesday to discuss the latest part of the district's deficit elimination plan. After already closing several schools, Superintendent Leonard Seawood now wants to layoff 20 teachers and administrators. Those that remain are being asked to take a 10 percent pay cut. Notice would go out about a week before the holidays.

"This could have been in February. It's tough no matter when you do it, especially if you have a heart with the holiday season. It's tough, but if we don’t make the decisions the state is going to make the decision and they're not going to care," said Board President Anthony Jett.

Benton Harbor Area Schools is facing an $18 million deficit and has been trying to make enough cuts to avoid a state takeover. Currently the state is conducting a preliminary review of the district, which could lead to a state-appointed emergency manager.

"I feel confident that that will not happen. We still have a long ways to go. We still are addressing some of the concerns of the state and we're trying to do this now with this particular concession," said Seawood.

Seawood and the teachers and administrators unions negotiated for four months before a proposal to cut pay by 10 percent and have members pay 20 percent of their insurance premiums, up from six percent. Seawood has previously said he will take a pay cut equal to what the union members take.

"That's tough because given the fact they haven't had raises in four or five years. I'm all about the teachers because those are the ones that are educating our students and it could be on the flip side, it could be no job and that's 100 percent cut," said Jett.

The district said the savings from the pay cuts will help it reduce its deficit and improve cash flow.

"If you look at 10 percent for half the year, probably talking about $700,000 to $800,000," said Seawood.

The board is expected to pass a plan to layoff 20 teachers, including two building administrators from the closed schools. If approved, notice will go out next week. 16 teachers will remain on staff through the end of the semester ending in January; four will be laid off in two weeks.

No teachers have been identified in the layoff. Union leaders are looking for volunteers first. Seawood said the district would not pay a severance citing the current deficit.

Additionally, more cuts are likely in 2012 as the district reorganizes into four schools for grades 1-8, one enrichment center and a high school.

"We'll see some deep cuts in the summer time, so when we start the next school year it should be a leaner, meaner district able to withstand because we don’t want to lose students," said Jett.

Union members will vote on the pay reduction and insurance premium increase on Friday. The school board is scheduled to vote on the layoffs and approve the concessions on Tuesday.