Ledyard — The recently accepted teacher furlough days will have no impact on the remaining student school schedule, and will occur on days previously designated for professional development.laying off a significant number of teachers without the furlough days. While on the town side, Town Council Chairman Linda Davis said she had a difficult time seeing a path forward that avoided sending residents a supplemental tax bill, in their absence.

The decision to take the furlough days on Jan. 2 and Feb. 21, two days in which students would not have had classes regardless, means students still will have the mandated 180 school days.

On Monday, teachers voted overwhelmingly in favor of accepting a two-day furlough, a move expected to save $170,000 from a recently slashed education budget.

Cuts to state aid, much of which focused on education, left the town staring down more than a $1.5 million deficit and stoked concern among town officials that, without teachers accepting the furlough days, more drastic measures would need to be taken.

Superintendent Jason Hartling previously said he feared the Board of Education may have to consider

The furlough days combined with actions already taken by the Board of Education, including a moratorium on filling vacanies and the denial of all nonessential spending, have brought the total savings to approximately $734,872, according to Hartling.

The Board of Education Finance Committee and the town Finance Committee will have a joint meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss how to cut the rest of the money.

c.clark@theday.com