This includes a pre-school program at all five Cadillac public elementary schools. The superintendent says reductions in state aide and the district's need to cut their budget by more than $600 thousand are behind the decisions.
CADILLAC -- Melinda Harris's daughter five year old Katie attends Cadillac Public Schools. She recently learned of the layoffs within the district which includes eight teachers and nine paraprofessionals.
Last year Melinda's daughter was part of Great Start Readiness Program, a pre-school program that's also being cut.
"It was a really good program. She did very good in it," says Harris.
She says as a parent she's concerned now that the program won't be available.
"It's a bummer. It was good for the kids before they go into kindergarten and now they're not going to have it. It's not going to be good for the kids," says Harris.
The Cadillac school board decided to cut the pre-school program along with the 17 staff positions for financial reasons.
"As the result of our need to reduce our budget by an excess of $600 thousand because of reductions in state aide as well as impending cuts that are coming," says Superintendent Paul Liabenow.
Superintendent Liabenow says he's also concerned about the cuts, especially the Great Start Readiness Program.
"It provides multiple challenges one for our families who were assisted with daycare because of the four year program. They will have to find additional daycare, but more importantly it provides great experience for many at risk children to help them prepare for kindergarten," says Superintendent Liabenow.
Beyond the school district though, the superintendent says it's the entire community that will feel the impact of the cuts.
"When a person I'm employing does not have health care benefits or salary, they don't have the ability to go out and purchase products at local stores....Then the domino effect occurs and more people are laid off through our community and then of course the state," says Superintendent Liabenow.
In all the school district is cutting $554 thousand from it's budget.
The superintendent says if the state is able to fund part of the Great Start Readiness Program, then there is a possibility of re-hiring staff.
