Until 1993, Jefferson Parish public school students were suspended and sent home for minor infractions such as showing disrespect and disrupting class.
Michael DelesdernierThen voters approved a half-cent sales tax, with some of the proceeds going toward an in-school suspension program for middle and high school students.
Rather than have students sit home doing nothing, or worse, get in trouble on the streets, they were instead sent to one of four school-based centers, where they did their school work while learning about conflict resolution, character development and other social skills.
Voters renewed the sales tax 10 years later, and on April 30, they will decide whether to renew it again. Jefferson Parish school officials say without the money, the program could be drastically cut, or eliminated altogether.
But that's not all the school system finances with the sales tax. With Superintendent Diane Roussel already warning about possible layoffs, failure of the sales tax would almost assure that many employees would lose their jobs.
"It would be a different school system," board President Michael Delesdernier said. "We will have to cut pay or cut people, or both. We will have to eliminate services. We will have to increase class size. There's no other way around it."
The sales tax represents $37 million of the school system's $400 million budget.
In addition to the in-school suspension program, the tax pays for social workers and counselors in elementary schools, updated textbooks and instructional materials, debt repayment and capital projects and maintenance. About 40 percent of the proceeds pays for salaries for teachers and support workers, including those charged with running the in-school suspension program.
"We have eight centers, with a certified teacher and paraprofessional at each site," said Carol Mancuso, director of Safe/Drug Free Schools. "It's an attempt to teach students (with minor infractions) socially acceptable behavior while keeping them in school so they're not on the street or home watching TV."
Cedric FloydThe social worker/counselor program is geared to students in elementary and middle school.
"The staff handles every possible issue that students have, ranging from being upset over a grade, having a fight with a friend, all the way to the more serious problems of facing a traumatic family loss," said Sam Hillson, coordinator of social work.
In addition, he said, crisis teams go into the schools to help students cope with the death of a student, teacher or other school employee. After Hurricane Katrina, social workers received special training to help students recover from the storm.
"We deal with social issues just like the Sheriff's Office and just like social services," Delesdernier said. "We are thrown into that mix."
Several groups have endorsed the tax, including the Jefferson Federation of Teachers, the Jefferson Business Council and the Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Political Action Committee. While there appears to be no organized opposition, board member Cedric Floyd said he thinks this is the wrong time to ask voters to renew the tax.
"I feel that this board does not have its house in order in terms of the direction of the school system," he said.
He said that until the board deals with the "bloated" salaries of the central office staff, voters will be reluctant to approve the tax, even if it is a renewal.
Superintendent Diane Roussel, who is retiring June 30, makes $254,000 and is the highest paid superintendent in Louisiana. The salaries of her staff range from $95,000 to $157,000.
Several board members have indicated the next superintendent will be paid less than Roussel and that pay raises will be based on improvements in the system's accountability ranking. The system now ranks 52nd out of 70 Louisiana districts.
Because the salex tax does not expire until the end of 2012, Floyd said the board should have waited to put the tax on the ballot until after a new superintendent is hired.
If it does fail, Delesdernier said, the board will try again. He said he hopes voters recognize that the board, which has five new members, is working hard to spend money wisely and refocus on academics.
He said the board, for example, saved $1.7 million by opening up the property and liability insurance program to competition.
He said the board also plans to reduce the central office staff but is waiting on the results of an independent study on the school system. That study will help the board determine how to proceed with budget cuts, building consolidation and staff restructuring, Delesdernier said.
He criticized Floyd for not helping the board present a united front in favor of the tax.
"Both labor and business groups are in support of this tax," he said. "They've come together for the sake of the children. He (Floyd) is free to say whatever he wants, but it's very, very short sighted."
Barri Bronston can be reached at bbronston@timespicayune.com or 504.883.7058.
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