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In a statement released late Tuesday, New Berlin Superintendent Joe Garza clarified speculation that the district could see one third of its current staff leave next year and said that the district anticipates turnover to be about 50 to 60 staff members.

The statement was in response to a Journal Sentinel article about the abnormally high number of New Berlin teachers not returning next year because of concerns over how the district has treated them in the wake of 2011 legislation that rolled back collective bargaining.

Staff members in New Berlin have until Thursday to resign or retire without financial penalty. The Journal Sentinel has requested updated numbers from the district on Friday, but has not received confirmation that they will be available that day.

In the statement, Garza said that as of Tuesday, 48 staff had resigned or retired in comparison to 30 or 35 in previous years. He said that through exit interviews and other information, New Berlin learned that about 15 staff members are leaving because of disagreement with changes the district has implemented since Act 10 went into effect, such as:

a longer school day

more student contact hours

a standardized evaluation procedure

a new employee handbook

teacher leadership assignments on committees