Orleans Parish School Board To Lay Off 21

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Orleans Parish School Board plans to lay off nearly two dozen employees, largely because of a drop in federal funding for low-income students and those with special needs.

The Times-Picayune reported (http://bit.ly/NDAkTI ) the list of staff losing their jobs includes four teachers.

Interim Superintendent Stan Smith, who has been warning of a potential budget gap for months, said layoffs would have gone deeper — to more than 30 positions — were it not for some recent resignations.

A handful of board members objected to what they viewed as a disproportionate hit to the academic side of the district's operations, rather than office staff. The School Board signed off on Smith's recommendations during committee meetings Thursday. The full board will vote on the plan at a meeting scheduled for Tuesday