By David Vitrano

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – According to St. John the Baptist Parish Superintendent Courtney Millet, a form letter sent to 90 district employees informing them their contracts were coming to an end is a standard annual procedure in the system.

“That letter has been going out for years,” said Millet.

The difference this year, however, is because of a projected budget shortfall in the school system, many on the list can expect to not have their contracts renewed for the upcoming school year.

The letter was sent to all employees who are on one-year contracts with the district, a group that includes non-certified teachers, late hires and retirees. The most prominent of district employees to receive the letter was East St. John Athletic Director Larry Dauterive, who is officially listed as a retiree.

“Basically, we’re looking at having to make reductions,” said Millet. “But no final determinations have been made yet.”

Millet did say the likelihood of rehiring any of the non-certified teachers, in light of the current financial situation, was quite slim.

The district, she said, will be unable to make any final decisions until it gets a firmer grasp of next year’s budget numbers. That could come as early as Friday.

According to School Board member Russ Wise, the state has yet to release final numbers for funding the district will receive from the government. Executive Director of Business and Finance Felix Boughton, however, said the amount is expected to be reduced for the next fiscal year because of dwindling sales tax revenue and reduced Minimum Foundation Program funds. Sales tax revenue is down because of the completion of the Marathon expansion in Garyville.

Nonetheless, Millet said it is too soon to tell if all 90 employees who received the letter would be let go.

“We’re studying everything,” she said. “To say that none of those people have jobs, it is a little too soon.”

She added she had little choice in issuing the letters.

“There are procedures that I have to follow,” she said.

Wise noted that like most businesses and organizations, the district’s biggest expenditure is on personnel, so that is the first place the administration will look when trying to bring budget numbers in line.

He added he thought the system would look at pay cuts and not filling open positions before it would consider layoffs.

“That is probably the last thing we would do,” he said. “I don’t think we’ll get that far.”

He noted, however, he thought it was unlikely any of those who received the letters last week would be rehired, stopping short of saying it was out of the question.

According to Wise, the school system is looking at a projected deficit of between $6 and $10 million.

The school system is required by law to have a balanced budget in place by July 1.