UTLA challenging district layoffs and teacher evaluation reform

Mike Roe/KPCC

Hundreds of teachers gather in downtown Los Angeles' Pershing Square on Friday, May 13, 2011 as part of a statewide campaign to rally against cuts in education funding.

During a rally Tuesday afternoon, L.A. Unified’s teachers union plans to challenge the school district to rescind more than 5,000 layoff notices it’s sent to union members.

United Teachers Los Angeles says Governor Jerry Brown’s proposal to give public schools the same funding next year as this year would mean $300 million in unexpected revenue for L.A. Unified. Union officials say that’s enough for the district to rescind layoff notices to teachers and other UTLA members.

In a written statement, L.A. Unified Superintendent John Deasy disagreed; he said the rosier budget projections won’t erase budget deficits.

A California Teachers Association official said he hadn’t heard unions at other districts demanding that those employers rescind layoff notices. He said the association is examining the governor’s latest proposal for public education funding.

It plans to send unions its analysis in about a week. That email will include recommendations on whether union leaders should ask administrators to renegotiate cost-saving measures such as furlough days.