Unions representing teachers and staff at the Pulaski County School District have filed a lawsuit to challenge a state decision to cancel their contracts with the district.

The unions sued Friday in the hope of stopping a plan to address fiscal problems at the district by removing the unions.

The 17,000-student district was taken over by the state last year due to financial irregularities. In February, the district entered fiscal distress because it projected a $13.6 million deficit in its $170 million budget for the coming school year.

State-appointed Superintendent Jerry Guess negotiated with the unions over proposed cuts but decided to terminate union pacts after the sides disagreed over how to trim the budget.

The unions are suing to have the contracts reinstated.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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