CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) — Eastern Illinois University sent slightly fewer layoff notices to civil service employees than the school originally thought was necessary.
The (Charleston) Times-Courier and Mattoon Journal-Gazette report that EIU President David Glassman sent a letter to the campus this week saying the exact number of layoffs was 177, instead of the original estimate of 198. Glassman says sending the notices was “difficult and disheartening.” The layoffs are scheduled to take effect March 12.
EIU has blamed the layoffs on the continuing state budget impasse. Glassman says he hopes lawmakers in Springfield will approve a higher-education funding bill in the next month so the layoffs can be avoided. He says the school “will do everything possible to recall our civil service colleagues as soon as funds begin to be received.”
