Jetson Instructors Laid Off

For more than two decades, Johnnie Brown has been an art teacher at Jetson Correctional Center.

"It's a challenge to actually get the students motivated to want to learn. So, that's a challenge for me and keeps me going"

Last year, Governor Jindal, signed a bill calling for Jetson to be closed.
Brown and the other instructors knew there would be lay offs, but was shocked last Friday, when she found out she was one of the teachers being let go.

"This is just not a good time for them, especially when you are talking about testing"

Terri Barrow found out from this letter sent by the Office of Juvenile Justice, that she too would be out of a job.
The letter said, "We regret to inform you that you will be displaced as a layoff action and that there is no displacement offer to make to you."

"They promised they would give us preference for any job opening. They have not done that. They have hired other people for jobs we were qualified for. We were never given the opportunity"

Barrow said she and the other instructors were given oral and written tests. She believes those tests were issued so OJJ could pick and choose who they wanted to stay.

"I'm concerned about where they are going to go from here. I hope they get juvenile justice correct in the state of Louisiana"

A call was made to Dr. Mary Livers' office. She's the OJJ Deputy Secretary. We never heard back.