The North Haven School System has laid off 18 part-time paraprofessionals, confirmed Superintendent of Schools Robert Cronin.

Cronin explained that this group of paraprofessionals had been paid through federal grant money that money is no longer available.

Cronin said that the grants have allowed the school system “to carry over a small amount from one year to the next. [The laid-off paraprofessionals] were paid by that carry-over money and now there is none,” said Cronin.

The laid-off paraprofessionals typically worked about 3 ½ hours a day, said Cronin. The school system will now have 39 full-time and 18 part-time paraprofessionals on staff and they will be divided among the schools, Cronin added.

“The principals are now working on coverage,” he said. “I think we will be okay.”