Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Reality Sets In

Have you heard this news?

L.A. UNIFIED CONSIDERS STARK MIDYEAR BUDGET CUTS
BY JASON SONG AND HOWARD BLUME FROM THE LOS ANGELES TIMES

November 17, 2008 -- The Los Angeles Unified School District has developed stark new plans including larger class sizes, layoffs and early retirement incentives to deal with a worsening state budget situation.

District officials -- already in the process of identifying $400 million in cuts for next year -- almost certainly will have to reopen this year's budget and find about $200 million to $400 million to meet an anticipated shortfall.


According to our principal, this could have a big effect on our tiny school... One scenario: laying off 2 of 10 teachers (need less teachers if class sizes are bigger), then having laid-off teachers with more seniority from other schools replacing some of our other teachers. Worst case scenario: the school, among the smallest in LAUSD, could even be closed. And to enhance the pain, the budget cuts will take effect in the middle of the school year, meaning kids classrooms could change in February. Even now, all money is frozen. We got lucky with that field trip earlier this week, now everything going forward that hasn't already been paid for is cancelled. Doesn't matter if the money exists in the principal's budget -- his accounts are totally frozen. One more thing: We aren't discussing any of this with Boylee.

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