36 Cuts Possible In North Hills Catholic School Mergers

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PITTSBURGH (AP) - Up to 36 teachers could be laid off under a plan to merge several Catholic schools in Pittsburgh's North Hills suburbs.

The Pittsburgh diocese has decreed the schools will become a ministry of 32 parishes in those communities effective July 1.

Four of the 11 schools will remain unaffected, but one school - 106-year-old St. Ursula - will close in June and the other six will merge into three schools with six campuses. The merged schools will be headed by a new nonprofit, North Hills Regional Catholic Elementary Schools headed by a board of five pastors and four lay people.

The layoff notices have been sent to 25 full-time and 11 part-time teachers employed by the 11 schools, which now have 180 teachers.

Some laid off teachers could be recalled if enrollment increases throughout the summer.

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