SWITFWATER – The vote was unanimous.  The Pocono Mountain School Board voted to close three schools and lay off about 280 employees, in the face of a fiscal crisis. 

Swiftwater Intermediate, Coolbaugh Elementary and the Coolbaugh Learning Centere will not open in the fall.  Among the layoffs will be 142 professional staff, including teachers.

The school district faces an approximately $500, 000 deficit for its 2012-13 budget.