LAUSD Board Accepts 10 Furlough Days to Save Thousands of Jobs

Once ratified, the agreement will be prevent the layoffs about 4,500 teachers and prevent some planned cuts to early- and adult-education programs, officials say

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Tuesday approved a series of agreements with its various labor unions -- including the teachers' union -- that call for workers to take 10 furlough days during the coming school year to save the jobs of thousands of employees.

Superintendent John Deasy said the agreements, once they are all ratified by the unions' members, will prevent the layoffs of about 4,500 teachers and "thousands and thousands" of other district workers, and will prevent some planned cuts to early education and adult education programs.

While not all of the adult education programs will be saved by the deals, "the heart of the program is back with us,” Deasy said.

In the face of an estimated $390 million budget deficit, the district earlier this year issued more than 9,000 layoff warning notices to employees.

Over the past few weeks, however, the district announced pacts being reached with the various labor unions. Most recently, the district announced June 8 that it had reached an accord with the powerful United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), calling for instructors to take 10 unpaid days during the 2012-13 school year.

Under the UTLA pact, there will be five fewer teaching days during the coming school year. Teachers would also take one "unpaid pupil-free day" and four other non-paid days.

The exact number of jobs being saved was expected to be finalized once the unions ratify the pacts, Deasy said.

Local

Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.

Dodgers home opener overshadowed by Shohei Ohtani interpreter scandal

Convicted killer who left Santa Ana halfway house is in custody

"This will allow the overwhelming majority of our programs to be sustained for another year," he told the board, noting that the deals will maintain librarians and counselors and provide "partial restorations" of cuts in early- and adult-education.

"This doesn't solve every problem. It can't," he said. "…But it does say to students, you know, the adults who are around you will do almost anything to help you."

Deasy said last week he remained hopeful that voters in November would approve a pair of tax measures being proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to generate funds for education that could help eliminate furlough days.

The district has planned to ask voters in November to approve a $298 parcel tax, but the board voted earlier today to delay that election until after the November vote.

Copyright CNS - City News Service
Contact Us