TRYING TO SAVE JOBS USING FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS; ANOTHER LETTER FROM LAUSD SUPERINTENDENT RAMON CORTINES


 December 01, 2010

To LAUSD Employees:

As we come to the end of this calendar year I would like to remind our employees of how hard it has been for all of us to face our new budget realities. This week, we were required to part ways with a number of our longtime and faithful employees, and change the work status of many more.

This was not an easy task nor was it one that we embraced. These tough decisions are impacting our entire LAUSD family including students and parents. As difficult as they are, these were decisions we had to make and act upon.

I know that many of you wanted me to use our one-time Federal Education Jobs Bill funds to prevent some of the job cuts we are currently experiencing; however, in the face of clear indications of a continued bleak budget picture, the use of these funds in the current year would have been grossly irresponsible. We are attempting to bring stability during these turbulent times. If we don’t use these dollars in 2011-2012 to preserve jobs, then our challenge becomes worse, rather than better.

Given that scenario I would like to remind you of the 38,000 certificated and 28,000 classified employees who continue to make a daily contribution to ensure that we continue to provide the best education possible for our more than 607,000 students. I am grateful for the work that you do every day.

Next year will not be any easier. The reality is that 2011-2012 will be an even more difficult year. In an effort to address this situation I have already planned to use the Federal Education Jobs Bill funds, $103 million, to save more than 2,000 jobs beginning next July.

I ask that you stay close as a school community during this season and stay focused on our mission of preparing our students to be college prepared and career ready.

Sincerely,

Ramon C. Cortines