Monday, April 05, 2010

Letter to the Editor: SAVING JOBS WITH A SHORTER YEAR

Re “When less means more,” Editorial, March 31 | LA Times

5 April 2010 -- The agreement between United Teachers Los Angeles and L.A. Unified to shorten the school year to save teacher jobs and stop class-size increases did not come out of thin air. In reality, it took months of hard work at the negotiation table.

This agreement negotiated by UTLA will bring stability to our schools. It's what's best for the students, and that is what UTLA is about. Next week, our 45,000 teachers and health and human services professionals will vote. They deserve recognition for the financial sacrifice they are about to consider.

We also must acknowledge that a shortened school year is not a long-term fix. Our schools have endured a heartbreaking series of cuts, and teachers should not be called on to help pay for a public education system that the state refuses to adequately fund.

UTLA will keep fighting to ensure that L.A. Unified continues to reduce non-school expenses to minimize the impact cuts have on the classroom.


A.J. Duffy
Los Angeles
The writer is the president of UTLA.

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