Increased class sizes are a certainty for Wake County Schools. The school board voted Tuesday to bump up class sizes by two students in grades 4 through 12 and to eliminate teacher assistant positions in third grade in response to a state mandate to cut funds.

"It will not be a surprise in some high schools to see class sizes in the mid-30s, and to see upper elementary classes with close to 30 students," said Superintendent Del Burns at Tuesday's board meeting.

The school board approved a total of $35 million in cuts, including textbook funding and funds for transportation. But $21.7 million was labeled "discretionary" by the state, a decision that left school administrators and school board members frustrated.

"It's ridiculous to call it discretionary," said Board Member Lori Millberg. "They cut every other area as much as they possibly cut and then demanded more discretionary money when they know the only pot left is teachers."

Despite the announcement last week that Wake has been able to rehire 911 of the 1,496 teachers whose contracts weren't renewed in June, there are plenty of teachers who are still out of work.

"Only 911 have been hired back, that's not a plus," said Jennifer Lanane, president of the Wake chapter of the North Carolina Association of Educators. "We've got 2,400 new students and we have 600 less employees. What kind of win is that?"

An executive order issued Friday from the Governor has school system officials worried about the potential for further cuts. The order calls for an additional five percent reduction in monthly allotments to state agencies. While it specifically states that exceptions may be made for classroom instruction, school officials say that doesn't make education funding immune.

"We contacted the Department of Public Instruction to see what this truly means for public education," said Wake Chief Financial Officer David Neter. "They're investigating it. I don't believe they were aware of this until the order came out."