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Crowd Protests School Nurse Layoffs In Western Md.

SMITHSBURG, Md. (AP) -- Some Washington County residents are frustrated by the county's decision to cut $3.3 million from a local health department program that provides nurses in schools.

The Herald-Mail  reports that about 65 people attended a county commissioners meeting Tuesday to ask about the nursing program.

County Administrator Gregory Murray told them the local school board plans to fund a school nursing program. It wasn't clear whether all 76 nurses who got layoff notices from the health department last week will be retained.

The commissioners said they cut the nursing funds because the county must pay a share of teacher pension costs previously borne by the state.

The schools superintendent says the nursing program will be thoroughly analyzed this summer.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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