VIDALIA &045;&045; The Concordia Parish School Board is trying to reach out to the teens that aren’t enrolled in its schools.

Using first-time grant dollars the district will kick off a new program next week to give dropouts, GED students or graduates the skills they need to get a job.

&uot;We saw the need for something for our young people to inspire them to get a decent job or get the education for a job,&uot; Coordinator Cheryl Probst said.

Youth ages 16 to 21 who live in Concordia Parish who are from a low-income family and are not enrolled in school are eligible for the class, which will meet once a week until May.

The Workforce Investment Act will fund books and materials, and a local teacher will instruct the class. The program addresses low basic academic skills, inadequate workplace skills and unsatisfactory life skills.

Students will work with computer software, watch videos, take field trips, have guest speakers and adult mentoring, among other things. They will also participate in community service projects.

At the end of the class, students will be placed in four-week paid jobs with local businesses. The grant will cover the initial pay.

&uot;If they prove to be good workers, people might keep them on,&uot; Probst said.

And that’s the hope of the program, she said, that these students will stay in town, find jobs and make a life here.

&uot;If somebody’s interested in landscaping or gardening, or the healthcare fields, we can help,&uot; she said. &uot;It’ll be one-on-one personal guidance.&uot;

For some students completion of the program might mean more education, possibly a technical college or community college, Probst said.

In the grant application Probst said the program would be for a minimum of 20 students.

An informational opening night will be held at 6 Thursday at the Concordia Parish School Board building, 4358 Louisiana 84, Vidalia.

Participants must show certification of low family income.

Teens who have low basic skill levels, are homeless or runaways, are foster children, are pregnant or parenting or are dropouts are perfect candidates, Probst said.

Classes will officially start in October.