PARAMOUNT : City Hires 10 Students for Workfare Program
Ten high school students have been hired for gardening and maintenance jobs as part of a city workfare program created for underprivileged teen-agers.
Students enrolled in the pilot program are spending their summer recess tilling city land for $5.18 an hour. They work 28 to 30 hours a week pulling weeds, landscaping and removing debris from public parks and city property, said Richard Leahy, deputy city manager.
The crew of four girls and six boys also paints, makes minor repairs and helps seniors who are unable to attend to basic home upkeep, Leahy said.
Only students from low- or moderate-income families with grade-point averages greater than 2.0 were considered for the project, Leahy said. City officials interviewed 20 applicants.
The program, which ends Sept. 2, has a budget of $45,000. The City Council will evaluate its success in October or November and determine whether it should be continued year-round, Leahy said.
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