VAN BUREN — The SAD 24 board Wednesday continued to reduce its professional staff. The layoffs were prompted by a significant loss in state aid.

The district, comprising Van Buren, Hamlin and Cyr Plantation, is bracing for a nearly $180,000 loss in state subsidy next school year. Last month, the board of directors eliminated four positions — a custodian-bus driver, a part-time secretary, the elementary library-media specialist and the middle school French teacher.

On Wednesday the directors also eliminated the elementary gifted and talented teaching position. The program will continue but the instructor will be paid a stipend.

At the high school, they eliminated an industrial arts teaching post and reduced the art and home economics teaching positions from full- to half-time.