RESERVE — St. John the Baptist Parish School Board members approved the budget for the 2016-17 academic year, accepting administrative and finance committee recommendations that impact which programs and people remained and were eliminated.

Attending Board members approved the budget unanimously Thursday. Board members Russ Wise and Clarence Triche did not attend the meeting.

When the budget was presented to School Board members in May, administrators said it did not include a reduction in fulltime staff members.

School Board members took the proposed budget under advisement in late May, with the finance committee reviewing the budget weekly thereafter through numerous public meetings.

District leaders grappled with an estimated $6.9 million deficit in revenue for 2016-17 compared with 2015-16 thanks in large part to the loss of one time funds from a BP oil settlement ($2,165,222) and East St. John Elementary insurance proceeds ($3,824,750).

To make up the difference, School District administrators proposed cutting $5,672,095 in expenditures from a combination of more than 20 sources.

Before May’s meeting, School District leaders said fulltime staff members would not lose their jobs, explaining contracts coming to an end this school year may not be renewed and active personnel would be reassigned to positions of need within the District without hiring additional employees.

On Thursday, the School Board voted to eliminate All South as project manager for East St. John Elementary, and eliminated its public relations contract, DBE coordinator contract and legislative lobbyist contract.

Other recommendations approved included reinstating the truancy program and reinstating the computer technician.