Early Budget Fails to Restore Teacher Pay

Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Sid Thompson released a preliminary $4.2-billion budget Monday that fails to restore any of the 10% of employee pay that was cut last year, but for the first time in five years calls for a slight increase in funding for education programs.

In presenting the budget, Thompson left open the possibility of budget tinkering this summer that could lead to diluting of the salary cuts. He and the Board of Education are “committed to pursue options to address the restoration of salaries. . . . Salary issues will be addressed through the negotiations process in the coming months,” Thompson said.

Under state law, the school district must submit a preliminary budget by June 30 to the Los Angeles County Office of Education. The final budget does not have to be submitted until Sept. 8, to allow for adjustment after the state budget is approved.

Catherine Carey, spokeswoman for the 27,000-member United Teachers-Los Angeles union, said Thompson’s budget is like a “first offer” to teachers. “It tells us what their bargaining position is,” she said.

Union President Helen Bernstein said school board members “are lying to us when they say that salaries are a priority. They are not looking for money. They are looking for a strike.”

She said the board should be engaged in “realistic discussions” on budget shifts to make good on its yearlong pledge. The union has hired a private firm to examine the district’s budget for any funds that could be allocated to salary restoration, she said.

Budget Director Henry Jones said there is virtually no wiggle room in the district budget. However, the school board could choose to make painful decisions in the next two months to restore salaries through budget cuts or layoffs--two options it has strongly opposed.

“We will continue to seek additional revenues,” Jones said. “With every dime, you see the agony that the board goes through in trying to restore salaries. They are trying.”

He added that the district is seeking to avoid losing $6.7 million in state funds because of quake-related enrollment declines. About $5 million in state reimbursement may be freed in the next two months because of other quake expenditures. About $4 million not committed to special programs has yet to be allocated, he said.

The board could also dip into a fund of about $40 million if it decides that employee salaries are more important than some new classroom supplies and furniture for next year.

“Even though you can’t see in this document any commitment to salary restoration, it is deep in our hearts and we are really going to work on it,” said school board member Mark Slavkin.

Thompson’s budget proposal adds about $4.3 million for school reform measures, including$1.3 million to train parents and teachers involved in the LEARN plan and $500,000 to develop new districtwide curriculum standards.

“This is the first time in half a decade that we have a budget that has an add list,” Thompson said. “But in a $4-billion budget it’s minuscule.”

The board is expected to approve the tentative budget Monday.