Today I heard a rumor that just started floating around the schoolyards in town. A parent told me that all teachers with less than five years seniority will be laid off. She had heard this from a teacher who had heard it from someone else, etc. Before everyone panics unnecessarily, I think it’s important to understand the truth.
The timing was good because I was at LAUSD headquarters this afternoon to work on a project and was able to ask one of the top decision makers in the Superintendent’s office. I got a completely blank look from him. He then told me that the District hasn’t even done those calculations yet and absolutely no decisions have been made. What it will come down to is what kind of agreement can be made with UTLA. Cuts will have to be made somewhere, but exactly where and how deep will depend on the union. Ironically, traced back, the rumor may actually have come from UTLA.
The genesis could be that LAUSD is required by law to send out preliminary notices advising of possible layoffs. In these days of uncertain and dwindling education budgets, we shouldn’t be surprised. You may recall that last year, 8,846 notices went out and only 337 people were actually laid off. Yes, teachers will probably receive notices (and many may actually lose their jobs) but in the vast majority of cases, it’s only a formality mandated by law.
It’s easy to be freaked out by rumors like this but it pays to remember that there are a lot of players here and they all have different agendas. Sadly, providing a top-notch education for every child in Los Angeles is not necessarily part of everyone’s agenda. As a parent group we need to remember that our priority is our children and not allow ourselves to be manipulated by propaganda – regardless of where it comes from.
I also heard some good news while I was there (as opposed to not bad news). Current thinking at Beaudry is that no secondary teachers will be cut. This means that no one who teaches middle school or high school will be laid off. Now, what does that mean for elementary schools? I’m not entirely sure, but I was specifically told that the Superintendent absolutely does not want to go to 29:1 in the lower grades and will do whatever he can to prevent it. Again, a lot of this comes down to what UTLA and the District can agree to. As this point no one knows. I think that’s worth repeating - no one knows.
Victoria
***** MOMS UNITE is a grassroots parent advocacy group devoted to improving public education in California.
To join, please send your contact information to join@moms-unite.org and follow us on Twitter @MOMSUNITE.
The timing was good because I was at LAUSD headquarters this afternoon to work on a project and was able to ask one of the top decision makers in the Superintendent’s office. I got a completely blank look from him. He then told me that the District hasn’t even done those calculations yet and absolutely no decisions have been made. What it will come down to is what kind of agreement can be made with UTLA. Cuts will have to be made somewhere, but exactly where and how deep will depend on the union. Ironically, traced back, the rumor may actually have come from UTLA.
The genesis could be that LAUSD is required by law to send out preliminary notices advising of possible layoffs. In these days of uncertain and dwindling education budgets, we shouldn’t be surprised. You may recall that last year, 8,846 notices went out and only 337 people were actually laid off. Yes, teachers will probably receive notices (and many may actually lose their jobs) but in the vast majority of cases, it’s only a formality mandated by law.
It’s easy to be freaked out by rumors like this but it pays to remember that there are a lot of players here and they all have different agendas. Sadly, providing a top-notch education for every child in Los Angeles is not necessarily part of everyone’s agenda. As a parent group we need to remember that our priority is our children and not allow ourselves to be manipulated by propaganda – regardless of where it comes from.
I also heard some good news while I was there (as opposed to not bad news). Current thinking at Beaudry is that no secondary teachers will be cut. This means that no one who teaches middle school or high school will be laid off. Now, what does that mean for elementary schools? I’m not entirely sure, but I was specifically told that the Superintendent absolutely does not want to go to 29:1 in the lower grades and will do whatever he can to prevent it. Again, a lot of this comes down to what UTLA and the District can agree to. As this point no one knows. I think that’s worth repeating - no one knows.
Victoria
***** MOMS UNITE is a grassroots parent advocacy group devoted to improving public education in California.
To join, please send your contact information to join@moms-unite.org and follow us on Twitter @MOMSUNITE.
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