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| 19 Educators to Lose Jobs at La. Youth Prison |
| By Associated Press |
| Published: 05/29/2003 |
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Nineteen educators at the Tallulah youth prison's school have been told that they will lose their jobs on June 30. The state operates a full-service school within the Swanson Correctional Center for Youth under a special school district administered from Baton Rouge. A shrinking student population led to the layoffs, said Cline Jenkins, acting director for the state's special school districts. 'The school was originally staffed for more than 400 students, but the population has been greatly reduced,' Jenkins said. 'Today the student population is about 225. We're realigning our student-teacher ratios.' The school currently has 94 personnel slots with 10 vacancies that likely will not be filled. The layoffs, including 15 teachers and four teacher's aides, would reduce the staff to 65, Jenkins said. 'We tried our best to treat every job category and person as fairly as possible,' Jenkins said. 'The cuts were across the board.' State Sen. Charles Jones, D-Monroe, said he would meet with Jenkins in an attempt to restore the jobs. He said the state will get $300 million from President Bush's economic stimulus plan that could be used to fund the positions. The prison's overall future is in question. A proposal to close the prison was amended by Jones so that no change would take place for 18 months and that the facility will continue to be operated as a correctional facility even if the youth offenders are removed. The bill is awaiting House action. |
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