65 teachers are on the chopping block in the Duluth School District, the decision came down Tuesday evening during the school board's meeting.

The layoffs affect 34 non-tenured teachers. Those are instructors within their first three years of teaching.

31 tenured teachers are also being let go. The District says those employees have recall rights for the next four years.

They say it wasn't an easy decision, but officials say it was a necessary one in order make financial ends meet.

"I just want to add that these are quality teachers--they're people that we're pleased to have teaching in our school district," said Tim Sworsky of the Duluth School District.

The district has applied for a head start grant. If that goes through, officials say it would bring back about a dozen teachers involved in the Head Start Program.

Meanwhile, the Duluth School board approved a new 2009-2011 teacher's contract that includes a one percent increase in salary each year. It also includes an opportunity to find new health insurance plan.