DOE to lay off 40, superintendent says she's suing school board

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Education will lay off as many as 40 employees next month as the board tries to meet the governor&#39;s order to cut spending, and board members are blaming the job cuts on outgoing School Superintendent Linda Schrenko. <br> <br> Meanwhile, Schrenko said Friday she plans to sue the school board. <br> <br> Deputy superintendent and Schrenko&#39;s former campaign manager, Merle Temple, says board members abused their power and used department employees to work on ``pet projects,&#39;&#39; do private research and personal work. <br> <br> Members of the board - who are appointed by Democratic Gov. Barnes - say Schrenko, a Republican who lost in the gubernatorial primary earlier this month, is using the layoffs and the lawsuit to target people who did not support her politically. <br> <br> They pointed out that other agencies were able to meet Barnes&#39; spending cuts without job cuts.