By Matt Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – As the Archdiocese of St. Louis prepares to lay off about 200 grade school teachers, many of those teachers say they're not getting a straight answer about severance packages.
The Association of Catholic Elementary Teachers says the Archdiocese reneged on a promise of severance pay for the teachers who will lose their jobs.
Two weeks ago archdiocesan spokesman Jamie Allman mistakenly told the Post-Dispatch there would be a generous severance package for teachers. And teachers say another church official later rescinded that statement.
But Terry Edelmann with the Catholic Education Office says the Parent-Teachers Committee could still end up recommending severance pay.
"Typically the committee discusses the matter, makes a recommendation to the board of Catholic Education, possibly sometime in April, and that recommendation would go to the Archbishop," Edelmann said.
The teachers are not eligible for state unemployment benefits because the Archdiocese does not participate in the program.