Fired New Orleans Teachers Can Proceed with Class Action

The Louisiana state Supreme Court has decided not to block a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of nearly 8,500 public school employees who claim they were wrongfully terminated following Hurricane Katrina. Included in the suit are former principals, teachers, office administrators, secretaries, counselors, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and other school employees who were terminated after the Sate of Louisiana took control of over 102 New Orleans public schools three months after Katrina flooded the city.

According to the lawsuit, state education officials received over $400 million in federal funds to restart public schools in New Orleans and neighboring school districts. Instead of keeping current school employees, the funds were used to hire new employees from other states, including out-of-state contractors for food service, transportation, maintenance, school security and other services.