Teachers Union and LAUSD Crisis

Helen Bernstein (president of the Los Angeles teachers union) has announced “If teachers hurt, then the city will hurt” (Aug. 9). We knew Bernstein was growing increasingly out of touch with the people of this city, but until we read this, we had no idea how much. Ms. Bernstein, the people of Los Angeles are hurting--deeply. And so is the rest of the state. Joblessness is at an all-time high. In the areas where most of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s children reside, these indicators approach 50% of the population. The state budget is in crisis because revenues have been so low. That is why LAUSD has had to cut $400 million and more than 1,000 positions, and why we anticipate more cuts.

Bernstein has accused everyone from the business community to the superintendent of trying to destroy teachers. It’s time for a critical review of their own contributions to this crisis. Let’s start with misleading the public and teachers. She continually asserts that the only reason teachers must take a cut is because LAUSD is administratively fat. She neglects to point out that LAUSD has the lowest administrator-to-teacher ratio in Los Angeles County and that even if her absurd plan was adopted and all personnel except teachers fired, there would still be a shortage of money needed to run this district.

Bernstein decries the “lack of creativity” on the district’s part to find solutions but does not inform her membership about how her misinformation is part of the problem. Those politicians in Sacramento who seek to further cut the education budget are using UTLA “misfacts” to argue this case.

Now she threatens to call teachers to a strike. While she fans flames by telling teachers they should get more (and who could argue?), she does not identify from where the funds will come. She is leading a war which cannot be won but which will only cause more damage to the financial status of the district, to the retirement packages of teachers, and to the morale and relations of the teaching staff, not to mention the impact on our children. As parents, this is a deliberate negative action against our sons and daughters cloaked as a “classroom-centered approach.” What Bernstein is really asking for is a district of only teachers. Never mind the fact that 500,000 of our children are fed daily, that almost 50,000 are transported daily, that buildings must be constructed and maintained as the district grows by 15,000 each year, or that payroll, attendance, and other fiscal matters must be managed. These employees, their jobs and rights for bargaining and fair wages are irrelevant in her plan. We are here to say, “Ms. Bernstein, children are the center of our education program. Please remember that!”

We parents fully know that having our Hispanic superintendent leave the district would not result in a “windfall” of $250 million from the state. If it were true, we’re sure that Bill Anton would leave immediately; however, the silly rhetoric by the UTLA president causes only damage to our cooperative efforts for a good education for our children.

SIGIFREDO LOPEZ, Chairperson

LAUSD Bilingual-Bicultural

Advisory Committee