Los Angeles Unified School District teachers are going to strike.
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This is not going to go well. Uh Oh!
Here's the Los Angeles Times report from Howard Blume, one of the few reporters at the El Segundo Times whom I have more respect for. When I was a teacher in Los Angeles Unified, I contacted him a number of times to let him know that my classroom was overwhelmed with students. I had 45 kids crammed into the classroom. I have to remove one of the computers in order to provide a desk.
The assistant principal at the time, Jose Suarez, informed me that they would get my classroom numbers down to 42 students. 42 students?! Unreal! That was the best that they could do for me at the time. What is the world coming to, what is LAUSD coming to that they can't even get classroom sizes down to 30?!
A federal judge has rejected an attempt by Los Angeles school district
officials to limit or prevent a teachers strike.
The school district leaders wanted to go to every length possible to stop this strike. Not sure what they thought they would achieve by going to a federal judge. This is a state and local matter, anyway.
officials to limit or prevent a teachers strike.
The school district leaders wanted to go to every length possible to stop this strike. Not sure what they thought they would achieve by going to a federal judge. This is a state and local matter, anyway.
The district’s legal maneuver was based on its responsibility under
federal law to provide services to students with disabilities. The district is
under additional legal restrictions based on a settlement that is under the
supervision of a federal judge.
OH ….
federal law to provide services to students with disabilities. The district is
under additional legal restrictions based on a settlement that is under the
supervision of a federal judge.
OH ….
Those combined obligations should have compelled the court to prevent
or limit a strike, the district argued in papers filed this week. But U.S.
District Court Judge Ronald S.W. Lew disagreed, taking only one day to issue an
order denying the district’s suit.
or limit a strike, the district argued in papers filed this week. But U.S.
District Court Judge Ronald S.W. Lew disagreed, taking only one day to issue an
order denying the district’s suit.
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| Judge Ronald Lew |
The L.A. Unified School District “is attempting, prematurely, to bring
an unrelated party into a long-settled dispute without any explanation as to
how [the teachers union] would be legally liable” under the settlement or
special education laws, Lew wrote in his decision.
an unrelated party into a long-settled dispute without any explanation as to
how [the teachers union] would be legally liable” under the settlement or
special education laws, Lew wrote in his decision.
The judge acknowledged that a strike could “burden” district efforts to
provide services to students, but said the district’s court filing “is a new
and independent claim that would inject facts and legal issues that have
nothing to do with claims that were settled … over fifteen years ago.”
One lawsuit precludes another, and the judge issued the decision in one day! That was fast!
provide services to students, but said the district’s court filing “is a new
and independent claim that would inject facts and legal issues that have
nothing to do with claims that were settled … over fifteen years ago.”
One lawsuit precludes another, and the judge issued the decision in one day! That was fast!
Lew held open the possibility that the district could file a claim
later, but that it would have to be after the start of a strike and was likely
to involve a more time-consuming process.
In other words, the strike would still go on, even if the district filed a lawsuit to stop it.
later, but that it would have to be after the start of a strike and was likely
to involve a more time-consuming process.
In other words, the strike would still go on, even if the district filed a lawsuit to stop it.
United Teachers Los Angeles hailed the ruling in a news release late
Friday night.
Friday night.
“The court’s swift and decisive action shows just how desperate a move
this was,” said union President Alex Caputo-Pearl.
The whole situation is desperate. How bad is this going to get for everyone in Los Angeles Unified. At the end of the day, students need an education. Judging on what kids are learning in LA area schools, they are getting an indoctrination while
this was,” said union President Alex Caputo-Pearl.
The whole situation is desperate. How bad is this going to get for everyone in Los Angeles Unified. At the end of the day, students need an education. Judging on what kids are learning in LA area schools, they are getting an indoctrination while
The action was a novel approach, essentially using legal protections
for students under federal law in an attempt to forestall a strike carried out
under provisions of state law. L.A. Unified had no immediate comment Saturday
morning, but officials have made no apologies for pursuing whatever strategies
they can devise to delay or prevent a teachers walkout. L.A. schools Supt.
Austin Beutner has said a strike would be bad for students and that he would
pursue any appropriate means to prevent one.
This is the result of unrepentant left-wing activism overwhelming a district. There is no recourse for what is best for the students, since all the powers that be at work in this situation are more interested in lining their own pockets or doing what is best for their interests. Too much politics, not enough principles, and all of that defines Los Angeles Unified.
for students under federal law in an attempt to forestall a strike carried out
under provisions of state law. L.A. Unified had no immediate comment Saturday
morning, but officials have made no apologies for pursuing whatever strategies
they can devise to delay or prevent a teachers walkout. L.A. schools Supt.
Austin Beutner has said a strike would be bad for students and that he would
pursue any appropriate means to prevent one.
This is the result of unrepentant left-wing activism overwhelming a district. There is no recourse for what is best for the students, since all the powers that be at work in this situation are more interested in lining their own pockets or doing what is best for their interests. Too much politics, not enough principles, and all of that defines Los Angeles Unified.
The two sides have scheduled a last-ditch negotiation session for Monday
morning, tentatively scheduled to take place at City Hall at the invitation of
Mayor Eric Garcetti.
That last minute meeting is going nowhere.
morning, tentatively scheduled to take place at City Hall at the invitation of
Mayor Eric Garcetti.
That last minute meeting is going nowhere.
Garcetti told The Times on Friday that so far he had not been invited
into the room with the parties, but that he was prepared to participate in any
way that would be helpful.
into the room with the parties, but that he was prepared to participate in any
way that would be helpful.
The contract talks would be the first since mediation efforts broke
down in early October.
down in early October.
Many observers see a strike as almost inevitable.
The district’s legal filing was based in part on the terms of a
long-running settlement called the Chanda Smith Modified Consent Decree. Chanda
Smith was an L.A. student who received a deficient education, according to a
1993 lawsuit, because she was deprived of services that were legally required
under federal law. District officials ultimately agreed to sweeping and costly
measures to assist all students with disabilities, all under the supervision of
a court-appointed monitor. That agreement holds to this day.
Wow. Now federal judges have gotten involved? Unreal.
long-running settlement called the Chanda Smith Modified Consent Decree. Chanda
Smith was an L.A. student who received a deficient education, according to a
1993 lawsuit, because she was deprived of services that were legally required
under federal law. District officials ultimately agreed to sweeping and costly
measures to assist all students with disabilities, all under the supervision of
a court-appointed monitor. That agreement holds to this day.
Wow. Now federal judges have gotten involved? Unreal.
For years, L.A. Unified has tried to get out from under the settlement,
arguing that it has fixed its problems. Some parents and advocates have argued
otherwise.
The best solution to this problem is school choice, competition, and accountability. The major stakeholders in LAUSD, however, are not interested in education for the students. They are interested in pushing an agenda.
arguing that it has fixed its problems. Some parents and advocates have argued
otherwise.
The best solution to this problem is school choice, competition, and accountability. The major stakeholders in LAUSD, however, are not interested in education for the students. They are interested in pushing an agenda.
On Thursday, attorneys for L.A. Unified cited the settlement as reason
to limit a walkout, saying the district could not satisfy its terms if
employees who work with disabled students went on strike. They wanted a court
order to keep those workers on the job. Such an order could have affected
teachers as well as nurses, counselors and psychiatric social workers, who also
are part of the union.
to limit a walkout, saying the district could not satisfy its terms if
employees who work with disabled students went on strike. They wanted a court
order to keep those workers on the job. Such an order could have affected
teachers as well as nurses, counselors and psychiatric social workers, who also
are part of the union.
L.A. Unified has about 60,000 disabled students, more than 12% of
overall enrollment, district officials said.
From this figure, that means that there are 500,000 students in the entire district. The numbers have gone down considerably.
overall enrollment, district officials said.
From this figure, that means that there are 500,000 students in the entire district. The numbers have gone down considerably.
The district has offered teachers a 6% raise spread over the first two
years of a three-year contract. The union wants a 6.5% raise that would take
effect all at once and a year sooner.
years of a three-year contract. The union wants a 6.5% raise that would take
effect all at once and a year sooner.
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But the issues that the union is pressing for go well beyond wages. UTLA
also is demanding a significant reduction in class sizes and the hiring of
enough nurses, librarians and counselors to “fully staff” campuses across the
nation’s second-largest school system. Union leaders have framed their activism
as a fight for the future of public education.
Indeed. I spoke with a neighbor who still works in Los Angeles Unified. He has been telling me that they are overburdened, underpaid, tired at the end of the day with no support or relief. There is too much testing, not enough learning, and the teachers have little support for all that they have to deal with.
also is demanding a significant reduction in class sizes and the hiring of
enough nurses, librarians and counselors to “fully staff” campuses across the
nation’s second-largest school system. Union leaders have framed their activism
as a fight for the future of public education.
Indeed. I spoke with a neighbor who still works in Los Angeles Unified. He has been telling me that they are overburdened, underpaid, tired at the end of the day with no support or relief. There is too much testing, not enough learning, and the teachers have little support for all that they have to deal with.
Beutner has said that some of the union proposals are worthy, but that,
if accepted, they would immediately push the school district into insolvency.
Pensions, benefits, etc are a huge cost right now. Huge. When I was a teacher for LAUSD, the district paid for everything. There were no copays for health issues. My pay startin got was $43,000 a year. After the contact settlement in 2006-2007, my salary went up to $47,000. Other districts were still making more money than LAUSD teachers.
if accepted, they would immediately push the school district into insolvency.
Pensions, benefits, etc are a huge cost right now. Huge. When I was a teacher for LAUSD, the district paid for everything. There were no copays for health issues. My pay startin got was $43,000 a year. After the contact settlement in 2006-2007, my salary went up to $47,000. Other districts were still making more money than LAUSD teachers.
The superintendent wants as narrow a focus as possible in contract
talks. Unlike the teachers, he doesn’t want to deliberate over whether there is
too much standardized testing or too little control over privately run charter
schools that operate on district-owned campuses.
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talks. Unlike the teachers, he doesn’t want to deliberate over whether there is
too much standardized testing or too little control over privately run charter
schools that operate on district-owned campuses.
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Final Reflection
I don't know how this is going to play out. This is the first LAUSD strike in 30 years.
I don't know how this is going to play out. This is the first LAUSD strike in 30 years.
The district enrollment has been declining considerably. Why can't the teachers have smaller class sizes? The bureaucratic bloat in the Los Angeles Unified main office is overwhelming. There are too many people going to meetings, when they need to work in the classroom or find another line of work.
It's pretty sad to see that many teachers look for another type of work in the district. They can't wait to get out of the classroom and get into an office or boardroom. What gives?