REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH) — Reynoldsburg City Schools laid off 51 teachers this week, part of major budget cuts after a November levy failed.

After voters rejected the district’s levy, Reynoldsburg schools were forced to cut $8.5 million from its operating budget. District Executive Director of Communications Valerie Wunder confirmed 51 teachers were notified this week they would not be returning, effective next school year. Parents and students said teachers were called down to the office individually during the school day to find out if their contracts were being terminated.

“My teacher, he had got called and he left. And I waited for him because I wanted to see how he was doing,” student Ava Tolkendorf said. “And he came back and he said, ‘It is what it is.’ And it made me really sad because like, he’s my favorite teacher.”

“Throughout the winter months, the administration worked collaboratively with the Reynoldsburg Board of Education to determine how to address deficit spending,” Wunder said. “This was a difficult decision to make to address deficit spending.”

According to state data, the district employs around 550 teachers. In February, Reynoldsburg cut $8.3 million by reducing staff, delaying expenses wherever possible and implementing pay to participate fees for athletics, $400 for junior high and $500 for high school. The district is still short of the $8.5 million it needs to cut.

“My high schoolers were saying, ‘Hey, Mom, I cannot believe this, but they’re calling teachers down and they’re letting them know that they will not have a job next year.’ And my children were absolutely devastated,” Reynoldsburg parent Danielle Tolkendorf said.

Staff have been aware dozens of teachers would be let go since February, although individual teachers were not alerted until Thursday. The impacted teachers were called down to the office and notified during the school day, so students were among the first to learn of the cuts. Parents told NBC4 they had only heard of the cuts from the children, and have not received word from the school.

“I heard it from my kids, I heard it from my friends, I’ve heard it from other teachers. And yeah, the district has yet to say anything. I really think that speaks volumes and it’s really sad,” parent Cecily Scott said.

Other staff cuts include eliminating five elementary assistant principal positions, and cutting three central office workers. In March, the district opted not to fill two open social worker positions and cut three current workers, reducing district social workers from 12 to seven.

Wunder said the district is obligated to follow the reduction in force policies laid out in their agreement with the teachers’ union.