The St. Landry Parish School Board on Thursday approved laying off 68 employees, about one-third the number originally estimated in a series of pledges to the state, hoping to realize an annual expense saving of $3.3 million.

Earlier in its meeting it accepted without comment a letter from a financial monitor retained by the state recommending it immediately approve draconian cost reductions to keep the school system viable.

Acting Supt. Joe Cassimere told the board that while the Reduction in Force is difficult it must be done as members opened envelops containing the RIF slots and names.

Neither the media nor the public was provided such a compilation. The record became public once accepted by the board.

According to board members, the 68 posts are mostly support positions, school nurses and English language teachers.

The board is expected to meet this week, probably Thursday, in special session to receive a second layoff packet, consisting of perhaps as many as 10 posts in support slots.

The meat of the RIF savings is in professional slots. When, or if, Cassimere will send the board a packet of certified supervisory-teaching-administrative layoffs is unknown.

Employee representatives again Thursday urged the board to proceed with what is difficult for all because workers need to know whether they should be looking for new jobs, jobs that are being filled daily in other parishes in the region.

The fiscal monitor’s letter projects the board will be out of money by the end of November if it doesn’t make the promised cuts and does get a $3.5 million loan for use beginning July 1.

That cash flow forecast includes about $2.3 million the board will get in July from two state funds that have accumulated in the absence of a request to spend them.

Without the reductions and with the loan, the board has a projected $1.7 million deficit by Dec. 31, six months of the new fiscal year, assuming it continues to operate after running out of money on Nov. 30.

With the loan and with the promised $10.3 million cost reductions, the projected Dec. 31 position is a cash balance so small that additional borrowing will be necessary because the board borrowed in the year nearing completion (June 30) from the new year (July 1) to meet cash needs.