LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nearly 400 teachers new to the district will be leading classes for Lincoln Public Schools this year.

That’s on top of the more than 300 teachers who were first-time district hires last year.

Associate Superintendent Eric Weber says the big class of teachers this year is needed because, in addition to the normal number of resignations, more teachers than normal retired at the end of the 2013-14 school year. Plus, an enrollment jump of around 1,000 students is expected as classes begin Tuesday. Enrollment jumped by more than 930 students last year.

The school board approved adding 50 full-time teaching positions this school year in order to meet the growth in student enrollment.