Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/63126
said Charmaine Banther, New Haven Teachers Association president. "We are in shock here. " LOS ANGELES Imagine the chaos: a school district issues massive numbers of pink slips to close pro- jected budget deficits. Los Angeles Unified, the largest district in California and second-largest in the nation, rocked United Teachers Los Ange- les members when the school board issued an unprecedented 9,500 layoff notices. "This large number of layoff notices, if finalized, would destroy the district," UTLA President Warren Fletcher warned the LAUSD School Board as hundreds of teachers, parents and students protested outside. He demanded that the district use $180 million in newly available state funding to rescind more than 2,100 RIF notices. The district responded by hiring a $93,000-a-year social media director, which UTLA blasted in a flier to members as an example of LAUSD "sending a clear message to its employees that its priority and focus is not on the classroom but rather on public relations to fix its damaged reputation." A $298 local parcel tax we have lost sight of that priority." Ryan said the 48,000-student dis- trict adds to the confusion by not following seniority policies when it comes to rescinding pink slips. "Unfortunately, the district has a ten- dency to forgo the negotiated contract language around seniority and instead rehire teachers based on a unilateral, arbitrary decision process." Fighting nearly 400 pink slips is taking Sacramento City Unified 389 210 its toll on Sacramento district teachers, said SCTA President Scott Smith. "There is kind of a battle fatigue that sets in." We go into teaching because it's our heart's passion. But I really have to think about paying the rent now. It's heartbreaking. Precious Jackson-Hubbard on the November ballot could repair some of the LAUSD cuts. See updates at www.utla.net. SACRAMENTO In Sacramento City Unified, first-grade teacher Kelly Ryan is tired of getting pink slips. Five years in the district have meant five layoff notices, said Ryan, who is on the Political Involvement Committee of the Sacramento City Teachers Association. Fewer teachers mean larger class sizes, she warns. "Increasing class size at a time and in a district where many of our schools are already in Program Improvement further jeopardizes the opportunity for student achievement. We need to make decisions based on what's best for kids. It seems that SAN DIEGO In San Diego Unified, the state's sec- ond-largest district, the school board is demanding concessions from the 8,000-member San Diego Education Association before rescinding layoffs, but SDEA questions the budget data and worst-case scenar- ios that the district is using. "The school board knows this system is broken. They also know that if 1,600 edu- cators are laid off, they can't open our schools next fall, SDEA President Bill Free- man said. "We continue to call on the district to work with us." Precious Jackson-Hub- " 458 San Francisco Unified San Juan Unified DISTRICTS WITH THE MOST PINK SLIPS Los Angeles Unified Long Beach Unified Sweetwater High School District 209 Capistrano Unified 392 San Diego Unified 1,655 9,500 309 Been RIF'd? CTA is here to help. Receiving a layoff notice (RIF or Reduction In Force) is without a doubt one of the most discouraging situations any educator can experience. If you are pink-slipped, you should immediately contact your local chapter and your primary contact staff (PCS). Legal resources are available on the year at Lincoln High School, received her third pink slip in six years. They devalue our skills, she said. "My colleagues and my students value bard, a former teacher of the San Bernardino City School District 251 332 Moreno Valley Unified CTA website at www.cta.org/rifs. The Layoff Survival Guide is an excellent resource where you'll find valuable tips and suggestions for coping. Topics include: me, but not this district. You would think we would get used to this, but we don't. You would think it hurts less, but it actu- ally hurts more, Everything you want to know about RIFs. think of the reality of what could be, that I could be out of work, it's very scary. Jackson-Hubbard is the sole breadwin- " she said. "When I stop to " ner. It's not fair that cuts are forcing her to choose between taking care of her family and her students, who are like family to her as well, she said. "We go into teaching because it' heart's passion. But I really have to think about paying the rent now. It's heartbreaking." s our By Mike Myslinski April 2012 / www.cta.org 29 Important instructions and answers to frequently asked questions. Notice of Defense and Request for Hearing forms. Be assured that while you are coping with this difficult situation, CTA continues to fight for you. We are working tirelessly to restore budget cuts made to schools and to fight for adequate funding so that our schools can provide the top-quality education that our students deserve.