Despite losing more than $4.5 million dollars in state funding, Johnston County schools are hiring.

The district has about 75 positions available, including teachers, teacher assistants, custodians, and bus drivers.

Because of an order from Governor Bev Perdue, the district can only hire people for positions that directly impact the classroom. So some of the 75 positions are frozen until the governor lifts the order.

The district plans to hire so many people because there was more turnover than expected at the end of last school year, said Senior Executive Director for Human Resources Robin Little.

More than 130 people resigned or retired, which is helping the district make up for the state cuts.

But the cuts are affecting the district in various other ways: it may increase class size by one or two students; it is putting off buying new math textbooks; it is reducing its technology fund by about 90 percent; and it is eliminating the budgets for remediation, literacy coaches, and staff development.

If you are interested in working for the school district, visit their website at www.johnston.k12.nc.us