More than 500 first and second year teachers in Marion County learned today that their teaching contracts will not be renewed next year.

While talk of the possibility of up to 33 million dollars more in budget cuts this legislative session has stirred up discussion of staff cuts, the number is more than school officials previously estimated.

Today 1st and 2nd year teachers were given the news that their contracts would not be renewed for the next year.

Second year teacher Logan Johnson says,

" This is my love, this is my passion, and i feel like everything's been taken away from me...all i want to do is teach."

First year teacher Allison LaPlante says,

"The children are what are going to make this world run, we were the children 20-30 years ago...our president's were children."

School officials say that the next job cuts made will be support positions such as custodians and bus drivers.