Tuesday, January 10, 2012

LAUSD FACES NEARLY $600 MILLION BUDGET SHORTFALL

Associated Press, from KPCC | http://bit.ly/zJe0Ob

LAUSD Rally in LA's Pershing Square

Students rally at Pershing Square. Mike Roe/KPCC

Jan 10, 2012 - 4:49 p.m. | AP  :: The Los Angeles Unified Schools superintendent says the nation's second-largest school district is facing a $543 million budget shortfall for the next academic year.

John Deasy told the school board Tuesday that if voters approve Gov. Jerry Brown's tax plan, that would only cover about $270 million of the projected deficit.

Deasy says he is working on a plan to further streamline district administration in order to stave off cuts affecting the classroom, as well a plan to ask voters to approve a parcel tax. A parcel tax was defeated in 2010.

Thousands of employees could also face layoffs.

The school board also wants Deasy to come up with a plan to stem declining enrollment, which further reduces district revenue. About 15,000 students leave the district annually.

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