Story Created:
Feb 18, 2010 at 12:20 PM PST
Story Updated:
Feb 18, 2010 at 12:20 PM PST
The teacher’s union has criticized Superintendent Ramon Cortines for “negotiating in public” by announcing a proposal to cut the Los Angeles Unified School District’s school year by six days to reduce a projected $640 million deficit.
“I am reluctantly proposing that we pursue a reduction of the school instructional year by five days for 2009-10, plus one pupil-free workday, creating the opportunity for furlough days for all personnel in the district.” Cortines said Friday.
The proposal would save a projected $90 million, Cortines said.
The state budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year allows districts to reduce the school year by five days. Any reduction in the school year would have to be approved by the various unions representing the district’s employees.
United Teachers Los Angeles “is, once again, disappointed that LAUSD has chosen to negotiate in public,” union officials said in a statement. “The union has requested that any and all negotiations take place over the bargaining table.”
Union President A.J. Duffy asked the district to respect the negotiation process and not negotiate in the media.
“Many of our members think a furlough day is an option that is far better than a pay cut and I agree,” Duffy told City News Service Friday.
The union will try to “figure out internally how we can help parents help their kids who lose five days of education,” Duffy said.
The union conducted seminars last year where teachers told parents what they could do to make up for the cancellation of summer school. A similar program could be offered, Duffy said.
“UTLA has met with LAUSD and is in the process of setting up additional negotiation dates with the district to discuss how to avoid layoffs,” according to the union statement. “The union has requested critical financial documents from the district and is still waiting to receive some of this data.”
“We understand that there is a budget crisis, but need all the requested financial information in order to determine the level of crisis and to ensure the district has reduced funding to non-classroom programs,” Duffy said. “We are always willing to participate in discussions with LAUSD aimed at reducing the threat of layoffs and class size increases.”
Union officials said they are “encouraged that Superintendent Cortines now realizes that furlough days must be true furlough days where teachers will not be in the classroom, rather than face the significant financial burden of having to be at work and also not be paid.”
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