Following a Tuesday night vote from Rio Grande City Grulla ISD school board members, nearly 60 district employees will be laid off from the district's administrative level.

Teachers will not be affected, the district said.

“Our central office is overstaffed,” district school board president Veronica Barrera said, adding that the layoffs are in an effort to fix a nearly $18 million budget deficit. 

Barrera told Channel 5 News overstaffing contributed to the deficit.

“In the past couple years we've had an increase of 15% in employment, but a decrease in our enrollment,” Barrera said.

According to Barrera, the layoffs will save the district about $5 million every year. 

The decision comes after controversy, and even a temporary restraining order that barred the school board from discussing the layoff plan behind closed doors in executive session. 

On Tuesday, the school district's attorney announced that order was dissolved.

The plan has many concerned that certain employees will be targeted, including board member Basilio Villarreal. 

“This is an attempt to retaliate for political affiliation,” Villarreal said.

Barrera dismissed those claims and said the plan was put together by the superintendent and school district attorney. 

“They're the ones that know about positions, they're the ones that looked into the plan, and they haven't even given us the names yet,” Barrera said.

Channel 5 News was told all impacted employees will be able to finish the school year. They will also have the opportunity to be hired back in other open roles. 

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