LA School Board Approves $20.6 Billion Budget With 1,000 Layoffs as Carvalho Exit Leaves Leadership Unclear
Updated
Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 23
LA School Board Approves $20.6 Billion Budget With 1,000 Layoffs as Carvalho Exit Leaves Leadership Unclear
1 articles · Updated · Los Angeles Times · Jun 23
Summary
$20.6 billion in spending was approved unanimously for the fiscal year starting July 1, pairing a new four-year academic strategy with more than 1,000 layoffs and deeper cuts projected later.
An $18.6 billion revenue base leaves the district deficit-spending and drawing down reserves after salary and benefits deals, while officials cite expired COVID aid, inflation and falling enrollment.
Several hundred permanent employees could lose jobs on July 1, and officials project thousands more reductions over two years in an 83,000-person workforce serving about 390,000 students.
Acting Superintendent Andres Chait led the meeting two days after Alberto Carvalho resigned following months on leave after FBI raids; the board has not announced a search and may keep Chait in charge.
The new plan shifts to more attainable goals after the prior strategy fell short, targeting grade-level performance in English, math and science plus measures of college, career and social-emotional readiness.