Martins Ferry school officials announced earlier this month the district will cut 11 educational aide positions.

Superintendent Nick Stankovich previously told NEWS9 district officials had been talking about possible cuts since last January. He said the cuts will save the district nearly $400,000.

In a press release Friday, the Ohio Association of Public School Employees union, which represents the aides, cited unfair job placement and violation of their agreement with the school district.

Seven teaching aide positions will remain. Stankovich previously said 33 people will be vying for those jobs, a process that will be based on seniority as well as qualifications.

In the release, union officials said the district violated its agreement and are filling those seven remaining aide positions with less senior employees.

The news release states that a "principal's spouse, a board member's spouse, and the spouse of the transportation supervisor are not slated to lose their jobs in the layoff procedure, even though they are among the least senior employees."

Members of the union are asking school administration to honor the agreement or legal action will be taken.

Parents also said they are concerned the cuts will affect education and said growing enrollment will overwhelm teachers.

"I do have concerns. I'm concerned that the classroom ratio, teacher-to-child ratio, will increase without having the classroom assistants," said Sherry Theaker, who has a child in elementary school. "The building is maxed-out by my understanding. We have a large enrollment -- 600 children. So when you have one teacher with 28 children by themselves, that's a concern."

Neither the superintendent nor school board members were available for comment Friday afternoon. Stay with NEWS9 and WTOV9.com for continuing coverage.

Previous Stories: May 21, 2010: Martins Ferry To Lay Off 11 Educational Aides May 13, 2010: Martins Ferry To Lay Off Employees