Caddo School System Considers Cutting Hundreds of Employees

As reported in the Shreveport Times, Caddo Parish School Board members are considering axing 312 jobs today in an effort to balance the 2012-11 budget.

Superintendent Gerald Dawkins is recommending the cuts to save $11.7 million.

The majority of those cuts would be in regular and special education teaching positions and classified employee positions such as custodians and bus drivers.

The board Tuesday will vote on increasing pupil-teacher ratios during a special session following a budget work session slated for 3 p.m. at the school board office. Increasing the number of students per teacher would allow the district to hire fewer teachers.

The total items in the proposal amount to $20.3 million in savings.

Caddo is looking at a $14.4 million budget deficit.

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