L.A. Unified OKs $1.6 billion in cuts over three years

The Los Angeles Board of Education on Tuesday approved nearly $1.6 billion in cuts over the next three years that will result in layoffs and increased class sizes and could one day mean the elimination of such key programs as all-day kindergarten and summer school. The action also makes it increasingly likely that many of those targeted for layoffs, including about 2,200 teachers and up to 2,000 school staff, such as custodians and cafeteria workers, will be dismissed, although union leaders said they are still negotiating to save jobs.

Including the latest reductions, Los Angeles Unified School District officials have now slashed almost $700 million -- or about 10% of the district's operating budget -- from this year's books, which includes federal grant money and other funding. Programs, including most summer school offerings and arts education, have already been scaled back due to funding shortages.

"Passing this budget makes me sick to my stomach," said Yolie Flores Aguilar, one of five board members who approved the budget.

Marguerite Poindexter LaMotte and Julie Korenstein voted against the proposal.

The cuts include about $132 million for the district's current fiscal year, which ends this month, and about $143 million for next year. In an effort to preserve funding for instruction, district officials approved taking money from such areas as teacher training, professional development and transportation.

The potential cuts would increase substantially for the next two years. Then, in 2011-12, when federal education stimulus money is scheduled to run out, district officials project that they will have to slash the budget by about $844 million.

The officials warn that if L.A. Unified does not receive additional funding by then, or get concessions from its unions, including shortened work schedules and pay cuts, programs such as summer school and full-day kindergarten would have to be canceled.

Most summer school offerings were canceled for this year, saving the district almost $34 million.

Teachers union officials have not agreed to any pay cuts or scheduling changes, said President A.J. Duffy, who said he hopes to avoid layoffs. But Duffy said the latest reductions would have a devastating effect.

"The quality of education in this district will most assuredly go down," the union chief said.