By Carla E. Kinder
Calumet, MI – An Upper Peninsula school district has had to eliminate several positions due to rising costs and decreased state funding. Six positions at Calumet-Laurium-Keweenaw Schools have been cut and the hours of two others have been reduced. The layoffs will also affect athletics, course offerings, and travel funding for the 2006-2007 school year. Superintendent Darryl Pierce says the budget is currently balanced and the cutbacks will be reevaluated next year. Pierce says no further cuts will be made at this time. Currently, there will be no athletic equipment funding, and home economics, local history, and advanced physical education will not be offered. Any school trips will have to be paid for through student fundraising.