NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The state-run Recovery School District, which took over dozens of public schools in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, is cutting 26 jobs within its central office, a move that Superintendent Paul Vallas said is in line with his goal to create more ‘‘charter-like’’ public schools.

None of those losing their jobs currently work as teachers within RSD, though some are certified to be teachers and may apply for future openings, he said.

The district — which hired more teachers than it needed at the beginning of the year, anticipating students would continue to register — may still have to hire 50-60 teachers this term to keep up with growing enrollment and keep class sizes down, Vallas said Tuesday.

The layoffs, he said, are ‘‘part of rebuilding the district.’’

When Vallas took over the RSD about six months ago, he inherited a central office that he felt was too large, with staff doing duplicative work, and at odds with his vision of remaking traditional public schools in the mold of privately-run charters.

That vision, he said, includes both giving RSD schools greater autonomy in such decisions as hiring staff and choosing their own curricula and transforming the central office from a micromanagement role to a support system for schools that also holds them accountable.

A reorganization of public schools in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, meant to turn around what many considered one of the worst systems in the country, left a handful of the best schools with a local school board and the rest with charters and the RSD.

Unlike other schools in the city, the RSD must continue to open schools, hire teachers or otherwise accomodate students who register for classes. On Monday alone, 100 new students enrolled, Vallas said.

Vallas is implementing reforms he said should lay the foundation to turn the system around — from longer school days to industry-based instruction to prepare students for the workplace — but big challenges remain.

Many students have been out of school a year or two, a high percentage of elementary students this year are below their grade level in reading, and hundreds of junior high students are at least two years overage, RSD has said.

The cuts are meant to save the cash-strapped district about $1 million, and bring the size of the central office down from 171 employees to 145. Nine positions were cut through resignations, terminations or transfers before Jan. 4. The rest will be gone within a week, a district spokeswoman said. The positions range from electricians and warehouse supervisors to athletic coordinators and human resource jobs.

Vallas said he does not want central office spending to exceed 5 percent of the district’s overall, $245.7 million budget. It currently does not, he said.

His goal, which he said the district also is in line with, is to dedicate at least two-thirds of the budget to classrooms for costs such as teachers, technology and extended day and summer school programs. Additional costs, such as expenses including school construction, transportation and meals, are not included in that 66-67 percent target.

In spite of a tight financial situation, Vallas said he did not anticipate any immediate problems with having enough money to hire extra teachers. RSD budgeted enough teachers for 13,500 students, he said. The latest enrollment estimate topped 12,300, and the district’s share of state funding could rise if enrollment grows beyond that, he said.

‘‘So I think we should be OK,’’ he said.