There was only one thing on my mind as this past week began: “Will I be getting laid off?” My question was answered this past Tuesday, when the LAUSD Board sat down and released their budget.

It appears that I will not be getting laid off this year; 500 clerical jobs will be cut instead. My disdain for the LAUSD bureaucracy is well-known. While I feel bad that any person must lose their job (especially in this economic climate), I know that the silver lining is that LAUSD might start hacking off bits of its bureaucracy. I joke with my friends and family that LAUSD can finally lay off positions like, “Stamp Licker”, “Phone Dialer”, “Pencil Sharpener,” and (my personal favorite) “Everyone on this list ^[1].”

I waited a few days before posting to filter out rumors and the like. To no avail, as no rumor was dispelled and more were created as the week went on.

I’ve heard that employees will have furlough days. I’ve heard that this will be for clerical only, and I’ve heard that this will be for all employees. Who knows? What I do know is that UTLA president A.J. Duffy has pointed out that any furlough days for teachers will be in violation of the contract, and therefore illegal.

I have also heard that there will be a freeze on all school supply requests. No one in an official capacity (LAUSD or UTLA) has been able to confirm or deny this rumor. What I do know is that my department at my school placed our supply order months ago, and everything was delivered to us two weeks ago.

I have heard that arts and sports will be cut (so-called “non-essential courses”), but again, no one in an official capacity has confirmed or denied this.

The only wise thing I have heard is this statement, taken from The Daily Breeze ^[2]:

Duffy said the union instead is proposing the closure and sale of the district’s downtown Beaudry Building headquarters, transferring mini-district administrators to school sites, cutting layers of middle management and reducing outside contracts. “Then there would be money for teachers and educational programs,” Duffy said. “LAUSD’s bureaucracy is the single biggest impediment to education in Los Angeles.”

I heard on the radio, though, that any sale of real estate can only be used to purchase more real estate due to a clause in the City Charter. Like we’d be able to get rid of it in this market anyhow.

Oof. This is too much. ^[3]

Related posts:

1. LAUSD budget cuts leave us NO choice ^[4]
2. LAUSD spared teacher layoffs (for the time being) ^[5]
3. BREAKING: LAUSD Votes to Send Layoff Notices to 2300 Teachers ^[6]
4. LAUSD to Teachers: Happy Holidays and a kick in the nuts. ^[7]
5. California targets the most vulnerable for budget cuts ^[8]