Jagneaux, West speak at Ville Platte Rotary

A school program designed to help students with disabilities learn valuable job training skills and earn a high school diploma will be in place in the parish this school year.
Ville Platte High School teacher Tracey Jagneaux, who will be working with the students, said, “The program will give them the opportunity to be more successful after high school and with getting and maintaining a job. They will be better off if they are able to get and maintain a job.
“Hopefully they will not have to rely on assistance from outside agencies. They will be able to support themselves and be more independent.”
Jagneaux spoke to the Ville Platte Rotary Club at that organizagtion’s meeting on June 28.
The Community Based Employment program is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
“The federal government mandated that special education students earn job skills and have a transition plan for a job after high school,” Jagneaux said. “What the program does is it gives them live transition skills on a daily basis.”
Jagneaux said the program is in place in other parishes.
In the next few weeks, Jagneaux said he will approach local businesses about participating in the program and to let the community know about the program before school starts. Once the school year starts, students will be tested for their interest levels, and the students will be placed in jobs where their interest levels lie.
Special Education Department Supervisor Roxane West also spoke at the meeting.
West said, “The program is in place in many larger parishes. It’s very successful. Kids are gaining a lot of work experience.
“Our goal is to have these students receive a high school diploma instead of a certificate of achievement, which is what they used to get. This program is specific to students with disabilities.”
The meeting was outgoing Rotary Club President Mitch Fontenot’s final program, and next week’s meeting will be the officical start of new Rotary President Peter Strawitz’s program leadership.