VILLE PLATTE, La. (KVPI-Radio) – The Evangeline Parish School Board voted unanimously Wednesday to reduce the number of paraprofessional it employs by 16 for the upcoming 2016-17 school year.

The recommendation was based on a formula to address the overstaffing of special education paraprofessionals.

The school board voted to follow the formula on overstaffing of special education paraprofessionals with a cap of 12.

In addition, four stand-alone paraprofessionals at James Stephens Montessori School will be eliminated for the 2016-17 school year.

Superintendent Toni Hamlin thanked the school board for approving the staffing changes. The staff cuts will save the school board $1.14 million dollars. The school board is facing a $1.2 million deficit in next year’s budget.

Hamlin said the school district has 104 paraprofessionals working in schools. She reported that there are three criteria used in the overstaffing policy: qualifications,  performance rating, and longevity.

In other business, the school board received a sales tax report from its business manager, Amy Lafleur. The school district ended the fiscal year collecting $7.1 million dollars which is a $316,289 drop from last year.

Lafleur reported that despite a slow economy, the sales tax distribution should be near what was distributed to school employees last year. The sales tax excess checks will be going out to employees in November.

Maintenance Manager Mike Hazelton reported that nearly all of the repair and cleanup projects have been completed in time for the start of school next month. Bids will be let soon for new roofs at Chataignier Elementary and Evangeline Central in Vidrine.

In other action, the school board approved reclassifying regular education teacher Melanie Bordelon to interim principal at James Stephens Montessori replacing Cheri Fontenot.