DeKalb School District 428 has told 70 teachers they may be out of a job next school year.

The school board sent notices to first- and second-year teachers to allow the district to cut teaching staff in the fall but hopes to rehire most, board president Tom Teresinski said.

The Illinois School Code requires that teachers be notified in writing of contract non-renewal at least 45 days before the end of the school year, Teresinski said.

Superintendent Brian Ali cited the state school code before explaining why the notices were to be sent.

“It certainly is the intent of the board to bring back teachers as budget information becomes firm and we know where we’re at,” Ali said.

The district will work on the budget and make changes through July, said MeriAnn Besonen, assistant superintendent of business and finance.

The school board is grappling with an estimated $2.9 million deficit for the next school year and is looking for ways to reduce the deficit.

Administrators presented possible savings totaling $3.7 million to $4.1 million, including a possible $2.89 million in staff cuts.

Potential cuts include $100,000 to $400,000 from specialty courses, $225,000 from special education and $32,500 from activity buses.

With tax caps in place and without a successful school funding referendum, the board must make spending cuts, Teresinski said.

One teacher on the non-renewal list, speaking on condition of anonymity, criticized the board’s emphasis on expanding the high school with tax referenda.

“They can’t even fund the programs they have now. How could they afford to build a new school?” he asked.

The teacher said the board, when pushing its last failed referendum in March 2003, promised to have the money to pay additional teachers.

“Now I might not have a job,” he said.

The district is waiting for the state budget before making budget decisions, Besonen said.