School districts' staff face annual job losses

For the last 20 years or so, Mary Brooks has faced an unwelcome break come spring: a letter telling her she has again (and again and again) lost her job.

She has worked in the Urbana school district for decades, mostly as the outreach coordinator at Leal Elementary School, and while the news that her position has been cut as part of a reduction in force (called "RIF" in school circles) isn't much of a shock anymore, it's no less upsetting.

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