DIXFIELD — Five RSU 10 staff members are receiving pink slips with just two weeks to go before school begins for another year.

Superintendent Craig King told the board Monday night that because of the federal sequester, the district will receive nearly $160,000 less in local entitlement money than previously told.

“This news came right after the budget was passed,” King said.

The lost positions will affect the district’s special education program.

“Any reductions are significant,” Special Services director Clarissa Errington said. “We’ll have to replan, shift again. We’re bare bones as it is.”

Positions eliminated include an educational technician at Dirigo Elementary School in Peru, an educational technician at Mountain Valley High School in Rumford, an educational technician at Dirigo Middle School in Dixfield, an educational technician at Dirigo High School in Dixfield and a district tutor.

Dixfield board member Bruce Ross asked why three of the five positions were eliminated from the Dirigo region in Dixfield and was told that during the budget development process, the positions of at least one educational technician and one special education teacher were eliminated from the Mountain Valley region in Rumford.

“The suddenness affects real people who live in the district,” King said. “There are things that may open up. That’s the advantage of a large district. Positions may open up and (those who lost their position) will be invited to apply.”

Errington said the elimination of the educational technician positions reverses some of the district’s best educational practices.

King said many educational technician positions are funded by very soft money.

Board Chairman Jerry Wiley said the $36.5 million budget is very lean.

Longtime board member Barbara Chow of Dixfield said she doesn’t see funding for the schools getting any better.

“We may have to revamp; the grants just aren’t there,” she said.

The first day of school for staff is Aug. 26, and for students, Aug. 28.

In other matters, Dirigo High School Principal Michael Poulin told the board a male student died of injuries received in an accident Sunday night. He did not give his name, but said he has siblings who also attend district schools.

He said the school crisis team has been notified and will report to the school when needed.

“Crisis teams will be available for support. We’ll get through this, for our students, staff and families,” he said.