The Downers Grove District 58 school board voted to send pink slips to 16 employees on a unanimous vote Monday night.

Under the measure, 16 employees will be let go at the end of the year due to staffing requirements.  School board president Stephen Funk said laying off the teachers – who typically are just beginning their careers – and support staff is a yearly exercise undertaken at the district’s elementary and middle schools to bring staffing levels in line with anticipated student enrollment numbers.

“Every year we do this. You can’t guarantee them a job,” Funk said.

Based on district projections some teachers and staff need to be cut, otherwise the district would have more teachers than needed for instruction, he said.  If the enrollment numbers are higher than expected, some of the dismissed employees may be asked back next year.

Additionally, some may be hired on at a different school in the district that has an increase in enrollment, said Superintendent Paul Zaander.

In total, four part-time teachers and 12 support staffers will be laid off.  One full-time teacher will have her hours reduced for the upcoming school year.

“It allows us to respond to change,” Zaander said.

bslodysko@tribune.com