HOUSTON -- Some Houston teachers are facing an uncertain future, according to Gayle Fallon, the president of the Houston Federation of Teachers, KPRC Local 2, Your Education Station, reported Friday.

She said the union was informed by HISD Thursday night that the district is considering a reduction in force, or teacher layoffs.

"I think what they're trying to do is get rid of some of the older teachers. The older teachers are more expensive," Fallon told KPRC Local 2.

On Friday afternoon, the district released a statement confirming the proposal.

"HISD has a number of schools that are projecting declines in enrollment," according to the statement. "The superintendent is asking the school board to authorize the reduction in force because as schools' enrollment declines, funding declines."

The district said it is doing this as a precaution ahead of the statutory deadline in mid-April by which it has to give notice to anyone who will not be offered a contract for the next year.

District spokesman Terry Abbott told KPRC Local 2 that the district is always making changes that are in the best interest of the taxpayer, students and their parents.

"If we lose 3,000 children, then you can't have teachers in classrooms without any kids. We don't get funded for that," said Abbott.

Fallon said the teachers hurt by the reduction in force would be those who teach non-core subjects, anything other than science, math and social studies.

Fallon urged the district to follow state law and school board policy. That would mean teachers who lose their jobs would be given first priority to move into another positions, before new teachers are hired.

The teachers union is threatening to take legal action against HISD if policy is not followed.

The school board could consider the proposed cuts at its meeting on Thursday.