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PUEBLO, COLO. -- The past few months have been difficult for all school districts across the state, and Pueblo City School District 60 is no different.

In light of the state's budget issues, the district is looking at cutting a variety of things, including 60 teachers.

"When you cut 60 teaching positions, you are hurting students, and that is our job, our job is to educate students," Carole Partin said.

Partin is the President of the Pueblo Education Association or PEA.

She is frustrated with the school boards recommendation to cut 60 teachers to save money.

Many of her colleagues feel the same way saying they have done their homework and know where the board could cut instead.

"We have found money that totals about ten million dollars in options for them, the big chunk is a 3.6 million dollar allocation that prior to this year was put into capital reserves," Teacher and PEA Member Leanne Carabelos said.

But district officials said they can not use reserve money because it is not a long term solution.

They said with 86% of their budget going to payroll, there is not much they can do to avoid having to cut employees.

"Sixty teachers may sound like a lot and it is a lot, we of course do not want to lose a single teacher, but when you have 30 schools that equates to about two teachers per school," D-60 Spokesman Greg Sinn said.

Sinn said teachers are not the only ones who may lose their jobs, and added there would also be $200,000 in cuts at the administration level.

He said those that remain on staff may also feel the effects of the budget shortfall.

"We are looking at two furlough days for all employees which would save us around $750,000, and then a pay freeze is an option in the 1% to 1.2% range," Sinn said.

All options that frustrate the PEA whose members said the district needs to stop being stingy with its money, and start spending it on what is important, students and teachers.

Sinn said if 60 teachers are cut, he does not think it will have a huge impact on class size, but the PEA disagrees saying it will be a noticeable change.

The district's school board has until the end of June to make their final budget decisions.