Wednesday, May 18, 2011

SIX FURLOUGH DAYS MAY OFFSET MOST THTEATENED LAUSD CUTS

By Connie Llanos, Staff Writer | LA Daily News | http://bit.ly/jJ7giE

5/19/2011 - Los Angeles Unified officials are expected to announce that they only need six furlough days from all employees to save most threatened jobs and programs, officials close to the negotiations said.

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy had originally asked all employees to agree to 12 unpaid work days in his emergency budget plan, drafted to address the district's projected $408 million deficit for the 2011-12 school year.

However, sources close to the negotiations said Deasy revised his budget plan after this week's announcement of an unexpected increase in state revenue, which will boost school funding.

Gov. Jerry Brown's updated budget plan said schools could see an additional $3 billion in funding, however state officials said that money would only materialize if they were able to get voters to approve a series of tax extensions in November.

At least four employee unions have already agreed to the district's furlough deal and a fifth union - SEIU Local 99 - is expected to sign off on the concession package today.

Deasy has repeatedly urged United Teachers Los Angeles, the district's largest union, to agree to the deal which he says would save 80 percent of the 5,000 educators that have been targeted for lay offs.

This week, UTLA leaders called for the rescinding of all lay-off notices based on the state's new financial picture.

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