Newark Public Schools dropped the axe Thursday on 194 positions and 40 job titles effective immediately, according to a report in the New Jersey Star-Ledger.

Valerie Merritt, director of communications for Newark Public Schools, confirmed the news in a statement.

“Please know that the impact of the state’s budget cuts is being felt in all school districts throughout New Jersey,” Merritt said. “The Newark Public Schools are no different. The reduction in force is a Civil Service Commission process that is done any time one of their entities is experiencing severe budget cuts. The Newark Public Schools is entirely beholden to the Civil Service Commission as a good portion of its workforce who are not teachers, are civil service.”

Affected employees were notified of the news through layoff letters received at the school system’s administration building. According to the report, employees were asked to work until 3 p.m. Thursday at which point they would pick up their final checks.