Layoff Notices for 142 Teachers Are Withdrawn

The Los Angeles Unified School District has withdrawn layoff notices for 142 teachers two weeks into a hearing on the legality of the proposed layoffs of 980 employees, teachers union officials said Monday.

Testimony at the hearing--which focuses on the technical requirements governing the layoffs--showed that those 142 teachers had either been improperly notified of the planned layoffs, had more seniority than assumed, or were eligible to be reassigned to teach other subjects, said Cathy Carey, spokeswoman for United Teachers-Los Angeles.

The hearings will continue into next week, with the judge slated to rule May 7 on the legality of the planned layoffs. In addition to the 980 who received layoff notices, another 1,193 school system employees have been told they will be reassigned or demoted to save money because the district must cut $317 million to balance its 1991-92 budget.