OAKLAND -- More than 500 Oakland school district teachers, counselors and librarians will receive letters this month, notifying them their jobs are in jeopardy, if the school board gives the OK on Wednesday.

The list of 538 full-time positions in question, posted on the district's website, includes 231 elementary school teachers, 41 English teachers, 45 social science teachers, 28 sixth-grade teachers, 25 P.E. teachers, 13 social workers, and the entire adult education staff.

Credentialed special education and bilingual education teachers would be spared from layoffs under this resolution.

This is the first time in years that the school district has issued pink slips to large numbers of tenured, K-12

classroom teachers -- a decision based on credential, subject and seniority. State law requires school districts to notify teaching staff by March 15 if there is a possibility they will lose their jobs.

"We just have to cover ourselves because there's so much uncertainty with how the state budget will finally shake out," said district spokesman Troy Flint.

Gov. Jerry Brown's January budget proposal largely protected K-12 education from further cuts, but it hinges on a $12 billion tax extension and another $12 billion in reductions to other state programs and services. The Oakland school district is preparing to cut about $12 million from its budget.