LAUSD and teachers union agree to substitute teacher changes

Los Angeles Unified and its teachers union announced Thursday they’ve solved a conflict over the school district’s approach to filling substitute teaching slots.

Earlier this year L.A. Unified administrators, with the blessing of the teachers union, quietly placed about 1,800 laid-off teachers at the front of the line for substitute teaching jobs. Each day the school district needs about 2,000 subs.

That essentially guaranteed full-time employment for the teachers, most of them beginners, who had lost their jobs. The agreement enraged thousands of veteran subs, including some who’d worked decades for the district. Their work and income dried up.

The teachers union governing body directed union leaders to renegotiate the deal. Starting next week, L.A. Unified will fill substitute jobs based on seniority, unless a school principal or the teacher who’s going to be absent requests a specific person as a substitute.

Today turns out to be Substitute Appreciation Day in the L.A. Unified school system.