LAUSD asks court to block teachers' budget protest
Union teachers plan an hour of picketing against state's cuts. The district says their absence from classrooms will create safety problems.
The Los Angeles Unified School District will make a last-ditch effort today to stop Friday's planned teachers union protest by filing for a temporary restraining order in Superior Court. A ruling should be issued later today.
Teachers are planning to spend the first hour of their workday tomorrow picketing outside their schools to protest the latest state budget, which L.A. Unified officials say will result in a $353-million shortfall for the district. Students will be supervised by aides and administrators during that time, but district officials have said they are concerned about student safety.
"We owe it to our students to stop this counterproductive action," Supt. David Brewer said in a statement.
In the meantime, the district and the teachers union, which is organizing tomorrow's demonstration, will hold dueling press conferences to try to build support. Brewer and state Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell will speak at 11:00 a.m. this morning at 10th Street Elementary School, urging the union to cancel the demonstration and calling on teachers to report to their classrooms on time.
The union and parent supporters will speak an hour and a half later at Roosevelt High School.
Earlier this week, the Public Employment Relations Board declined to file an injunction to stop the demonstration on L.A. Unified's behalf.
Jason.song@latimes.com
