AUSTIN, Texas (AP) _ A school advocacy group says an estimated 32,000 school employees across Texas _ including 12,000 teachers _ have lost their jobs due to $5.4 billion in education cuts.
And more are likely on the way, it says.
The Texas State Teachers Association wants Governor Rick Perry to call a special legislative session to tap the state’s $7.3 billion rainy day fund.
It said Wednesday that lawmakers could draw $2.5 billion from the fund just for education next year.
Perry ran unsuccessfully for president in recent months and has kept a low profile since returning to Texas. The Legislature isn’t scheduled to reconvene until 2013.
The association gave job-loss estimates that came from Austin-based school finance consulting firm Moak, Casey & Associates.
Official state figures won’t be ready until March.
(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)