WAVE 3 TV Louisville, KY | JCPS students out for summer, some say tough to find jobs

JCPS students out for summer, some say tough to find jobs

By Elizabeth Donatelli - bio | email
Posted By Mike Dever - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Jefferson County Public School students wrapped up the school year Wednesday, but in this tough economy some are struggling to find summer jobs. Students at Waggener Traditional High School started their last day with finals, but ended on a lighter note.

"We're signing yearbooks and we're saying goodbye, taking pictures, getting phone numbers from people we've been friends with all year but haven't really done anything with," said rising sophomore Cassie Kelsey.

Once vacation hits, many will be looking for those rare summer jobs as students this year will be competing with adults who have been laid-off.

"I've been looking since last summer," said rising senior Taneshia Calender. "It's like very hard to get a job - like you have to get it ahead of time ... don't wait until you're out of school because most of the summer jobs have already been reserved."

Calender finally got a job three days before summer started at Baskin-Robins.

About 5,300 students are graduating from Jefferson County Public Schools, and many will be looking for jobs. One student said he was joining the military partly because it's stable employment.

"Next year I'm actually going to be in the Navy, enlisting, because I just feel like the Navy has, like, more opportunities abroad for me," said graduating senior Jamir Kirby.

Others will be continuing their education.

"Our kids have had to work harder to get the scholarship money, but it is still out there," said Waggener principal Candi Conway.

Students who attend JCPS schools will receive more than $80 million in scholarships.

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