Principals in the San Diego Unified School District have picked up their packets of pink slips to be hand-delivered to teachers, counselors and nurses.
Some principals started delivering the notices Tuesday.
Cynthia Marten, Central Elementary School Principal, wore black as a sign of mourning when she talked about the need to inform 24 out of her school's 43 employees that they may not have a job for the coming school year.
"I want to talk to everyone personally everyone who is affected. It doesn't matter if you know the news is coming - it's still very difficult news," Marten said. She bought pink roses for each staffer getting a pink slip.
As Zamorano Elementary School teacher Kelly Warren explained, there's no way to prepare for the news.
"It's a little more real, you kind of hold out hope you're not getting one and it's handed to you at school," Warren said.
"I think it's just the emotion of hoping for the best and having to plan for the worst," said teacher Shelby Tierney. "The uncertainly is what's so stressful."
Countywide there will be 2200 pink slips delivered this week. Those employees affected will also be notified by mail.
Despite protests, like the one held last week, the SDUSD approved 1633 pink slips to teachers, nurses and counselors in order to close a $120 million budget deficit.
Sweetwater Union High School District voted earlier this week to cut 203 fulltime positions for the next school year.
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