Brooklyn New School already has large classes but most NYC teachers will be facing crowded classrooms next fall.

Now that school is out, principals are wrestling with how to slice at least 2.5% from their already thin budgets. That will probably mean larger class sizes; fewer course offerings in high school; and less money for supplies, tutoring and after school help when school opens in the fall.

Some schools will lose more than 2.5% because of new rules on which schools receive federal anti-poverty money, according to WNYC radio.

The City Council approved a budget at the end of June that averted the threatened layoff of 4,100 teachers. However, some 2,600 teachers are expected to leave the system and most won't be replaced.<!--more-->

We spoke to a few principals who are figuring out exactly what they will cut. PS 24 in Sunset Park will lose teachers due to retirement, moves, or career-changes, and they will simply not be replaced, according to Principal Christina Fuentes. But, she said, it is easier to move teachers around in elementary as they all have a common branch license which allows them to teach any grade.

"I lost a bilingual teacher but I have people I’m able to move around. I will be able to staff my school," she said, but acknowledged that class size will probably rise, especially in the upper grades.

With as many as 30 students in grade 2-5 classrooms, class size is already large at PS 146 Brooklyn New School. To offset large classes, and offer support to "kids in the middle" the school relies on part time math and reading specialists, says Principal Anna Allanbrook. Those are the positions that are in jeopardy with the budget cuts. "I've going to have to be very creative in hiring," said Allanbrook. "I have a bunch of part time people and I may have to turn to the PTA [for support]. "

Other schools, such as PS 11 in Clinton Hill, are not losing teachers but will have to cutback on such things as supplies, technology upgrades and planned  purchases including SmartBoards for all classrooms.

High schools who lose teachers may have to offer fewer courses. Last year, La Guardia High School, began limiting foreign language classes, only allowing students whose grade was 90 or above in their first year to take a second year of the language. Other schools will have to curtail afterschool programs, Saturday classes or tutoring help, or go without parent coordinators.

Schools may not hire new teachers from outside the system except in designated shortage areas which include  special education, bilingual and ESL teachers, general science, Earth science, chemistry and physics. There is also a shortage of Latin and Chinese teachers. New schools which are still expanding may fill up to 40% of their positions with teachers not already in the system.