By: Justin Park

Budget reductions in the second largest school district in the nation, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), caused the unemployment of more than 1,000 district workers, including librarians, deans, and office workers. Misfortune also came to thousands of others that were required to shift to different workplaces while some had to accept even lower pay and hours. Many LAUSD faculty members that were affected feel that their unemployment was unwarranted and iniquitous.

Many workers forced to leave their previous schools felt that they were being torn away from their hard work. "You're part of the DNA of the school," said Carole Koneff, a library aide that was forced to move to a different school. After years and years of hard work, one can only naturally expect an increase in something—be it rank, salary, or even respect. LAUSD's actions dropped some workers down to a mere 50% of their normal salaries, on top of being at a school alien to them. Up until now, about 2,000 employees were also demoted to lower classifications or given fewer working hours. Ultimately, the outcomes are all similar in the fact that most LAUSD faculty members will get a decreased pay due to budget cuts.

Those leaving their schools or even the district stated that the changes have hurt campus communities. Specific schools’ staff members that understood the fine points of their campuses and student bodies were forced to leave. Now "students are crammed into classrooms with [more] students which in turn affects the learning environment," said sophomore Andrew Sun. Jaime Escarzaga, a plant manager at South Region Middle School No. 2, was distressed because he was forced to transfer out from the school that he put his "sweat and heart" in to open. The district has, according to the affected, placed people where they do not belong, and those that do belong, in places they are unfamiliar with.

Despite the tragedy that the massive unemployment has undoubtedly placed on various families across Los Angeles County, there are the occasional people who agree with LAUSD's decision. While contemplating the effects of the dismissals, sophomore Nicholas Poon finally mentioned that he "thinks it's right" because LAUSD "needs to keep [only] the [best and most seasoned of its] faculty" in times like these.

District officials received notification of the extreme disapproval of the public. A tumultuous uprising by about 100 protesters on Nov. 30 outside the LAUSD headquarters censured the district. The ongoing deficit that the district currently faces, approximately $142 million, is the direct cause of this employment disaster. "Personally, I think if the state managed the money better, we wouldn't be facing this situation," Andrew stated.

Around 6,100 faculty members of LAUSD were manipulated, relocated, laid off, and demoted. In the persisting and acute economic crisis that California experiences, to become any of these is a dismal greeting. Many of these changes in staff members were definitely uncalled for, and some say must simply be seen as a way to more efficiently restore the district's budget to a safe line.

LAUSD Massive Unemployment
Depressing December LAUSD Dismissals
Starting the Holiday Season with Job Cuts