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Teachers once on the chopping block in the Desert Sands Unified School District have been given another shot.

The school board on Tuesday voted to rehire more than two dozen teachers, given pink slips at the end of the last school year.

A bill that passed through the State Assembly at the end of the school year helped save these jobs.

It allows for the school districts to operate at the same budget as the year prior.

“It was a risk that was taken by the speaker of the assembly to push it forward,” said Richard Shepley, first vice president of the Desert Sands Teachers Association.

The risk is paying off, according to district staff.

At the end of the last school year, 82 teachers received layoff notices.

But, in a July board meeting, 10 teachers were brought back before their layoffs went into effect.

On Tuesday, by a unanimous vote of 5-0, the board rehired 26 more high school teachers and counselors, just in time for the first day of class on August 29.

“We like small class sizes, so it really would be our wish and everyone’s wish that all teachers were back working,” said Sherry Johnstone, the assistant superintendent of personnel services, who also expects the board to vote to rehire about 20 more teachers by the start of the school year.

Sacrifices made by all certificated staff, such as working less days have also saved jobs, said Johnstone.

“Everybody is continuing to reach out, to help with having layoffs be at a very minimum, and keeping the class sizes low and keeping the services that help our kids,” she said.

Shepley said the layoff process has taken a toll on teachers — many of whom having received layoff notices four years in a row.

“But, they’re real troopers,” said Shepley. “They get back there and do what needs to be done.”

Pending board approval, Sherry Johnstone expects almost two dozen middle and elementary school teachers to be rehired as early as the next few days.

But that will still leave almost 30 teachers without a job.