The district's administrative assistant, George Richardson, said the board and administration will have to examine how the layoffs could affect the district, as families could be forced to leave the area to find work.

"Financially, student-wise, what happens there if we lose students? There's a lot of things we have to look at and we want to take time to do that," said George Richardson, administrative assistant for the district.

Richardson said project funding secured through the state is still available. But the financial aspect of Ormet's announcement is one that could be troubling as families could be forced from the area.

He said the project will go on -- and in fact, it is.

"We're in the mode right now of beginning to look at our sites and firm up where we're going to be putting buildings and everything,” he said.

Even with a potential student loss in the future, Richardson said he believes there is a need for the new buildings.

"It has to happen. It has to happen for the kids. I really think the project in the long term will bring people into the school district."

Richardson said the school board has a meeting scheduled for Aug. 6, when they will likely discuss the impact of the layoffs on the building project.