A larger than expected number of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools educators are getting notices this week telling them their jobs are gone for 2011-12, though district leaders hope to call some of them back.

The district is sending layoff letters this week to 739 teachers, counselors, librarians and others who work on the teacher pay scale. Another 338 are being notified that they've been reassigned.

The layoff number is larger than the 559 outlined when the school board approved layoff guidelines May 8. That's because the list includes more than 100 who are almost certain to be offered jobs before school opens, spokeswoman LaTarzja Henry said.

Because of school closings and uncertainty about the budget, dozens of tenured teachers with good performance ratings will see their current jobs disappear, and CMS currently has nothing to offer them, Henry said.

"We are obligated to find them a place somewhere," she said. But that is likely to happen only after the current jobs end June 14. "They are going to be waiting."

CMS officials say they had to notify teachers by May 15 to meet legal requirements.

An unspecified number of administrators and others who don't work in classrooms are also being notified separately of layoffs, including some where departments are being reorganized and employees can apply for different jobs.

This is the third spring that CMS teachers have faced massive layoffs, often followed by summer callbacks as the budget becomes clearer. Many say stress is soaring and morale is low; even Superintendent Peter Gorman says budget cuts are hurting classrooms.

Hundreds of teachers have faced uncertainty about their future since November, when the school board voted to close 11 schools and revamp or consolidate others. Some of those quickly landed new jobs, while others waited to see if they would get new assignments this week.

Even now, little is clear about how many jobs will vanish and which individuals will land in the unemployment lines.

The layoffs are part of an anticipated $100million in budget cuts. The school board voted 5-4 Tuesday to ask for an extra $50million from Mecklenburg County commissioners that would avert many of those cuts. County Manager Harry Jones releases his budget recommendation Tuesday.

State legislative spending decisions will also help determine how many teachers CMS can pay for next year.

Some of the 338 who landed new assignments will likely reject them, Henry said. That will open new positions for others seeking jobs.

Some of the 739 getting layoff letters are eligible for available jobs, but those who have low performance ratings or lack proper licensure are not, Henry said.

The layoffs include 285 teachers who had been hired on short-term contracts and knew their jobs would be gone at year's end.