During the economic downturn, teaching jobs have been put on the cutting board in an effort to balance the budget books. However, a city in Missouri is optimistic about the future of their public school teachers.

Springfield, Missouri's original budget had called for the elimination of 26 teaching jobs. However, the likelihood of more state funds and the option of using Title I funds to replace some teachers, will drastically lower the number of teaching jobs that will be cut for the next school year, according to the News-Leader.

Steve Chodes, chief financial officer for the school district, is currently drafting a revised budget for the new school year that would include the extra state fund and a 0.5% pay increase for all staff.

Springfield was in line to receive $28.3 million in state funding, but received an extra $850,000 at the end of the legislative session. That extra money could save up to 17 teaching jobs.

"It reduced our reduction, if that makes sense," Chodes said to the News-Leader.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3.5 million teachers were employed in 2008.