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Pittsburgh Public Schools to furlough 285 professionals

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Public Schools officials are sending out 285 provisional furlough notices to teachers and other professionals, whose jobs are expected to be cut to save $29 million annually.

Official notices aren't due until Aug. 1, but school officials wanted to warn teachers in advance because of the poor economy.

The district has the equivalent of 2,245 unionized teachers and other professionals, so the cuts target about one of every eight of those employees.

The district is furloughing teachers based on seniority and the disciplines they teach, as required under a union contract. But Superintendent Linda Lane and the school board have been trying to get the union to agree to furlough teachers based upon teacher effectiveness ratings.

Plans to furlough 350 teachers were reduced due to retirements, resignations and buyouts.