At the end of the academic year when Denver Public Schools will close seven schools and reconfigure three others, 243 employees will be without a job.

About half of those are guaranteed a job in the district, Lacy Nelson, the district’s director of talent acquisition, said in an update on the closures during the board of education’s regular meeting Thursday.

Of those just 22 have jobs lined up with the district and another 20 are pending a salary review, a district report shows.

That represents just 17% of those losing their jobs.

“This is a really high priority group for me,” said Nelson, adding that she was “confident” she can place most, if not all.

Non-probationary teachers — defined as those in good standing for at least three years — and educators in high-need positions such as math, special education and English as a Second Language programs are guaranteed positions.

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero also provided updated information about closures.

The district is in the beginning stages of hiring for next year.

The schools closing at the end of the year are: Columbian Elementary, Castro Elementary, Schmitt Elementary, International Academy of Denver at Harrington, Palmer Elementary, West Middle School and Denver School of Innovation and Sustainable Design. Kunsmiller Creative Arts Academy, Dora Moore and Denver Center for International Studies were restructured.

Denver’s skyrocketing home costs, declining birth rates and gentrification have been identified as forces driving enrollment declines.

In Colorado, dollars follow students. Fewer student means less funding.

The closures are expected to produce a net savings of $6.6 million for the district.

Half of the impacted schools are in southwest Denver, which has and is expected to continue experiencing the greatest student loss in the district.

According to district officials, the restructuring has impacted 1,106 students who are prioritized during school choice, which started in January.

The vast majority of affected students have already submitted applications and of those 98% were accepted for their top choice, said Chuck Carpenter, the district’s CFO.

“It’s a really terrific outcome and that doesn’t just happen,” Carpenter said.

Those who haven’t gotten their top choice have been shortlisted. But Carpenter is hopeful that they, too, can attend the school of their choice.

Colorado law allows parents to register students outside their assigned neighborhood schools.

The board also received a brief update on the meetings district officials held in the affected communities to hear from parents what they would like to see as future uses of the shuttered buildings. While no decisions were discussed, officials said several parents expressed an interest in early childhood education and retaining school gardens and playgrounds for the community.