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HARVEY, La. - Approximately 200 employees of Jefferson Parish schools have been laid off, according to Beth Brantley, a spokesperson for the school system.
Brantley said the layoffs were from the Central Office and were mostly administrative, however at least one teacher has told Eyewitness News that she received notice of her layoff.
Brantley said the people who were losing their jobs were informed by email today.
"Closing schools is always a difficult decision," the statement says in the email, "but we are confident that this decision will help the school district reach a new level of stability, and ultimately raise student achievement."
Norbert Rillieux Elementary had been slated for closure at the end of the '11-'12 school year, but it wasn't until Wednesday that teachers learned their positions would be terminated.
The statement says the school system is "committed to assisting employees impacted by the reorganization" and are asking teachers to complete a candidate survey so that they can apply for vacant positions at other schools. They are asking for all applicants to apply by June 6.
The layoffs are part of the school system's reorganization plan the board approved back in April.
