By AP/KWMU
St. Louis – Public school officials in St. Louis approved a budget plan Thursday that includes 350 job cuts.
The special administrative board approved slashing the annual budget by $53 million. The plan also includes closing 14 schools.
Board president Rick Sullivan said the cuts will not hurt the quality of education because they will not include certified teachers.
He said most of the cuts will come through attrition and retirement of support staff, substitute teachers and central office workers.
The board also approved a new contract with teachers that provides a three percent pay raise for the next school year and a raise retroactive to this past year.