WAFB Channel 9, Baton Rouge, LA |Parents call deaf school a "boot camp"

Parents call deaf school a "boot camp"

By Paul Gates - bio | email

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB) - The fallout continues at the Louisiana School for the Deaf because after being shut down for about a month, class is back in session, but many students and parents say it's no longer a school but a boot camp. 

The school ran into some tough times after several alleged cases of sexual abuse involving staff and students. Randal Pippins, president of the Louisiana Association for the Deaf, believes things are not going well at the deaf school. He says students have been carrying, wearing, and planting small black flags as a quiet campus protest to current conditions. "Human rights for these deaf children at the deaf school are in jeopardy and the staff as well, but mostly the children."

Kids at the deaf school can't leave campus for a snack or drink from local stores like they used to do. The boys are separated from the girls in the dining hall. There are now 170 surveillance cameras that show security guards where students are and what they are doing. "It feels like in the past the school has changed from its former status to a jail." Reportedly, if one student needs a bathroom break, all students in that class must also go to the restroom, whether they need a break or not. "The class can't be left alone, so the whole class has to go and once they go to the bathroom, a few can't go in at once. One has to go in at a time."

State Superintendent Paul Pastorek was questioned about increased restrictions at the deaf school. It was he who called all the shots when he closed things down. "For the time being, I think you are going to see the restrictions we put in place that are going to have to stay in place." Pastorek says he's planning to incorporate an advisory group this summer. "So I can work more closely with the deaf community, the parents and the students to talk about changes we can make. I'm prepared to make changes."

Counselor Rogers is soon leaving the deaf school for career stakes. She's not really happy about leaving. "I feel a lot of anger and so many questions. Everyone was wondering why we closed. There have been so many incidents at other schools and they didn't take extreme measures as they did at our school."

Deaf school employees are also worried about layoffs required by a $1.2 million cut to the school's budget. Thursday, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted unanimously to approve Pastorek's motion for the cut, meaning 31 employees would need to be let go to match the $1.2 million hole.

Related Stories:

• Plans to merge blind & deaf schools questioned
  
• Two School for the Deaf employees placed on leave
  
• Parents and officials working on making progress at School for the Deaf
  
• Parents with children attending LA School for the Deaf meet with state officials

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