This section is dedicated to providing information for the public regarding reduction in force in the school district.
If I received a pink slip, does that mean I am losing my job?
The letter you received is a PRECAUTIONARY measure/action taken by the Board of Education, but it does not mean you have lost your job. On April 14, 2009, the LAUSD School Board voted 4-3 in favor of potentially laying off 3,477 nonpermanent teachers, 2,875 management and administrative employees, and 498 counselors and support service personnel in order to close a $596 million deficit. According to the LAUSD news release, it has not been decided exactly who or how many employees will be laid off. More information will be available after schools submit their budgets on May 15, which will indicate how many positions will be purchased. If you have more questions, please speak to your union.
How does bumping work?
According to California Ed Code and the Collective Bargaining Agreements (Article XIII), employees with greater seniority may not be laid off before employees who are newer to the district. So when positions are reduced or eliminated, more senior employees have the right to “bump” into a position held by an employee with less seniority in order to avoid a layoff. After May 15, more will be known about how many employees will be “bumped” into a position.
I hear that schools can “buy back” positions. How does that work?
Principals will be able to use $270 million in stimulus and decentralized programs money to buy back as many as 3,167 jobs such as teachers, counselors, library aides and academic coaches. For teachers and administrators, schools can “buy back” position, but schools cannot buy back a particular person unless that person is high on the seniority list. Based on collective bargaining agreements and CA Ed Code, seniority will govern the re-employment process. The process for coaches is different though because you cannot gain seniority as a coach. In the case of coaches, schools will have more freedom to buy back the staff they want to fill those coaching positions. Please see the “How To“ section of this website to learn more about this process.
How will the federal stimulus money be used?
The district is waiting for more direction from the State on how much money is coming and when it will arrive. It has not been decided exactly how the money will be allocated.
Here are the different perspectives on how the money should be used:
- Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is recommending that the state uses every dollar immediately to stimulate the economy and keep people employed.
- Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines would like to spend the money more conservatively over the next two years as the federal guidelines permit. Superintendent Cortines has expressed concern that if LAUSD uses all of the stimulus money for 2009-2010, LAUSD would have to lay off twice as many employees the following year. The LAUSD Budget 2009-10 briefing highlights how the stimulus funding will be allocated.
- UTLA issued a statement recommending that LAUSD uses the stimulus money at once to save jobs and maintain class sizes for this year.
Should I be looking for another job? When will I know the final outcome about the budget and my position?
You should speak to your union representative before looking for alternative employment. All changes in staff should be completed by June 30.
