As part of the town's effort to slice $500,000 from its current-year budget, the School Department will immediately eliminate seven positions -- four paraprofessionals and three food service employees -- Superintendent Kimberly Shaver-Hood told the School Committee Wednesday night.

“It was very difficult. These are cuts we did not want to have to make,” Shaver-Hood said. “It was something we did not want to have to do. This affects people’s lives. They’re all valuable employees, and we regret this is the situation that we’re in.”

In December, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan made an agreement with the state Department of Revenue that the town would work to cut its current year expenses by $500,000 by June 30. In return, the state certified the town's tax rate, allowing tax bills to go out on time.

Thus far, Sullivan has found about $250,000 in non-school budget cuts.

“Earlier this month, we received a request from our town manager to provide $250,000 worth of cuts from the 2014 budget,” Shaver-Hood said. “We have met that obligation.”

Two of the three food service cuts will come from Minot Forest Elementary while the other one will be made in the high school. The paraprofessional cuts will come from Minot Forest Elementary, the middle school and the high school.

“We will have to reshuffle,” Shaver-Hood said.

Shaver-Hood said the position cuts account for roughly a quarter of the $250,000 requested cuts. The other three quarters will come from the schools cancelling planned bus purchases.