The Pasco County School District has announced a reorganization plan for next school year that includes the elimination of more than 100 teacher positions.

In October, soon-to-be Superintendent Kurt Browning said job cuts were a possibility in order to close a $23 million budget gap. 

Thursday, Browning followed through with an online announcement to teachers countywide.

"I know what I'm about to share with you could cause some distress for some staff members," Browning said on the video.

Then, he told teachers a total of 109 positions are to be eliminated by next school year, as part of a reorganization plan.

Those include 56 media specialists, 33 literacy coaches, 10 ESOL non classroom teachers and 10 more ESE non classroom teachers. The district says all together, it will save $5.6 million.

"This is change, change is difficult," says spokesperson Linda Cobbe. "But we're all in it for the kids. We all have to remember that."

Cobbe said these changes are not nearly as dire as they sound. Though the positions are being cut, the people themselves will most likely stay. She said there will be enough job openings next year to rehire most, if not all of those teachers.

Still, the Pasco teachers union is wary of the district's claim the transition will be seamless. President Lynne Webb said there's a good change teachers will be taking on more than they bargained for.

"It's one thing to say we are going to eliminate a position. It's another to say we're going to eliminate the duties and responsibilities. We have not heard that yet," Webb said. "The district has its head in the clouds if they believe there will be no impact on students or teachers by eliminating media specialists."

Webb said that's something she plans to address once negotiations for next year's contract begin in April. 

Meanwhile the union and the district have finally come to an agreement on this year's contract. After nine months of bargaining, furloughs have been taken off the table and the district will maintain its fully-board-paid employee health plan. The vote to ratify the contract is set for April 4th.