EPSB Committee OKs plan to cut 16 jobs in parish

After nearly two months of discussions, the Evangeline Parish School Board Executive Committee has reached a decision on where cuts will be made in the district to balance the school board’s budget.
At the executive committee’s June 29th meeting, the committee of four decided on a plan that entailed cutting a total of 16 special education (sped) paraprofessionals (para) from all of the schools in the parish besides James Stephens Montessori (JSM). In addition to the sped paras, the executive committee decided to also cut four regular paras from JSM, which would mean 20 total para jobs would be cut from the district.
When the full board assembled for their regularly scheduled meeting last week, board members decided for the second time to send this topic back to executive to further look into the board’s options when it comes to making cuts.
On July 11, 2016, the executive committee met once more, and after previously discussing this matter with Superintendent Toni Hamlin the committee made its decisions concerning paras in the parish.
The executive committee decided on Monday that instead of cutting a total of 20 paras, there would only be 16 cut because that is the required number of cuts needed to balance the school board’s budget.
There will be four regular paras cut from JSM, and 12 sped paras total cut from the other schools.
The executive committee’s decision will be voted on by the full board at the school board’s July 20th meeting, which will begin at 6:00 p.m.
At the committee’s meeting, Hamlin also informed the board members in attendance that JSM principal Cheri Fontenot will no longer be at the Ville Platte school. JSM teacher Melanie Bordelon will now be the school’s interim principal.