Potential layoffs cut in half at EBR schools
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The size of the potential layoffs of East Baton Rouge school system staff was cut in half by Thursday night when the School Board approved a resolution to authorize a reduction in force of up to 50 positions.
Only 24 hours earlier, school officials estimated the layoffs could go as high as 100 positions — due in large part to the state takeover earlier this year of four failing schools and the board’s decision to close two other schools.
By law, the school system must find slots for any tenured teachers from those schools who wish to remain in the system.
School Board member Tarvald Smith said he got calls all day Thursday from people concerned about the potential for 100 layoffs. He commended the school staff for working to place employees in other positions.
“Based on the perception that was out there this afternoon, you would have thought we were in dire straits,” Smith said.
The 50 positions presented to the School Board are: three executive school secretaries, 15 of the nine-month clerks, 28 paraprofessionals and four teachers in career and technical education.
“These are areas considered for reduction in force,” said Elizabeth Duran Swinford, associate superintendent for human resources. She said the school system is continuing to look for positions to reduce this number even further.
“The goal is to get to zero,” she said.
The resolution authorizes the state — under the direction of the superintendent — to give notice to those 50 employees that there is a possibility of layoffs.
The state recently decided to take over four low-performing Baton Rouge schools — Dalton and Lanier elementaries and Crestworth and Kenilworth middle schools, all of which are now under contract with private charter school organizations.
In addition, the school system decided to close two other schools — Greenville Elementary and Lee High School.
“When we started this process we had more than 200 people that could be potentially in this RIF (reduction in force),” said Superintendent Charlotte Placide.
She commended the effort the human resources department has made in finding placement for as many school system employees as possible.
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