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Los Angeles Unified School District has just announced an agreement with United Teachers Los Angeles. Details from the district’s press release are below. UTLA statement after the jump.

LAUSD AND UTLA REACH TENTATIVE JOBS AND SERVICES RESTORATION AGREEMENT Los Angeles – LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy announced today the District has reached a tentative contract agreement in partnership and collaboration with United Teachers Los Angeles for 2011-12 to save jobs. The agreement calls for the union’s membership to take four furlough days, or fewer, in 2011-12 if the State’s budget picture improves. 
“I want to thank UTLA for working with us to provide a solution for next year that brings stability – and the majority of our employees – back to the classroom,” said Deasy. “I’m very pleased to be able to retain the current class sizes, and positions and programs such as magnet coordinators, School Readiness Language Development Program (SRLDP), Options program, arts programs, Library Media Teachers, and adult education at the 2010-11 level.” 
Under this agreement for 2011-12, 3,402 positions will be restored, including 1,722 elementary and secondary teaching jobs as well as 1,680 positions, including adult educators, arts educators, counselors, Library Media Teachers, nurses, options teachers, ROC-ROP instructors, SRLDP teachers, and magnet school positions. An additional 1,700 classroom and non-classroom (counselors, school psychologists, PSA counselors, and psychiatric social workers) positions are anticipated to be created or saved as a result of local school budget decisions and retirements. 
 Deasy cautioned that the success of the agreement is contingent upon Governor Brown’s proposed budget being approved by the Legislature. He noted that the District and its various bargaining partners are “relying on maximum trust” that Sacramento will support the Governor’s proposal for education funding. 
 ”Should the actual, approved state budget and revenue limit come in above our proposed budget,” said Deasy, “we will be in a position to incrementally reduce the number of furlough days for all our bargaining partners. However, these education revenues must be fully-funded, not deferred and without restrictions.” 
 The Superintendent added that should the revenue limit come in below the proposed level, UTLA’s members will be required to take up to six furlough days to mitigate the impact of the loss of revenue. “If there is huge decline in revenues,” said Deasy, “the District and all of its bargaining partners will be compelled to reopen negotiations.” 
 ”While this agreement does not restore all the cuts — because our schools are still drastically under-funded — it goes a long way toward providing the resources and personnel for our students to succeed,” said Deasy. “In the meantime, all those who care about public education in this state must continue to apply pressure on Sacramento to fund education above the current pathetic, sub-standard levels.” 
 As a result of the Governor’s May Revise budget released on May 16 and authorization from the Los Angeles County Office of Education, LAUSD will apply $154 million of a 2010-11 State IOU cash deferral to address the District’s $408 million deficit and Feb. 15 package of budget reductions for 2011-12. This, along with furlough day agreements from UTLA and five other unions for 2011-12, will help stabilize LAUSD’s classrooms and services for the upcoming school year only. 
 The announcement of the tentative agreement with UTLA means that only the Teamsters and California School Employee Association unions have not yet reached an agreement with the District for 2011-12. 
 ”I would like to thank our Board for its clear direction and unwavering support to further enhance the educational program for our students,” Deasy said. UTLA and LAUSD reach tentative agreement to stop class‐size increases & save jobs

May 27, 2011 ‐ UTLA reached a tentative agreement today with LAUSD that would maintain class sizes and potentially result in the restoration of more than 5,000 jobs for the 2011‐12 school year.  The agreement would also include fewer lost instructional days than in the past 2 years.  LAUSD withdrew its original proposal to take a loan from the multi‐union Health Benefit Fund Reserve.  The deal has to be approved by UTLA members and the Board of Education. Key points include:

 Class size maintained at current levels
UTLA successfully preserved current class sizes and counselor norms, thus stabilizing our schools and the learning environment for our students. As a result, staffing will be restored to 2010‐11 levels. The District had
planned to increase class size to 29‐1 for K‐3 as well as increases in other grade levels.  

 3,400‐plus jobs saved
Under this agreement, 3,402 positions will be restored, including 1,722 elementary and secondary teaching jobs as well as 1,680 positions, including adult educators, arts educators, counselors, teacher librarians, nurses, options teachers, ROC‐ROP instructors, SLRDP teachers, and magnet school positions.  

 At least 1,700 additional jobs anticipated to be saved
An additional 1,700 classroom and non‐classroom (counselors, school psychologists, PSA counselors, and psychiatric social workers) positions are anticipated to be created/saved as a result of local budget decisions and retirements. Even more jobs will likely be saved as a result of the restoration of class size and student‐to‐adult ratios.

 Four furlough days in 2011‐12 if state revenue does not increase.
After review of all available data, UTLA agreed to four furlough days on the condition some or all would be removed by a formula if the District receives anticipated state revenues. In the unlikely event less funding is received, as many as two furlough days could be added to the four according to the same formula. Should the budget shortfall be greater than the amount of money saved by the additional two furlough days, LAUSD could reopen negotiations.  The four furlough days would consist of a reduction of three instructional days and one pupil‐free day. UTLA and the District will jointly determine the timing of the furlough days.  

“This agreement demonstrates that when UTLA and the District collaborate, problems can be solved to the benefit of our students,” said A.J. Duffy, UTLA president.  

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