Public school teachers go on strike in LA; 500,000 pupils affected

LOS ANGELES - More than 30,000 public school teachers in Los Angeles walked off the job on Monday to press their demands for better pay, smaller class sizes and more educators.

The strike -- the first in 30 years -- is affecting some 500,000 students in the nation's second largest school district, with intense negotiations in past weeks failing to lead to a breakthrough.

The action is being watched closely by teaching unions across the country that are engaged in labor negotiations and also considering strikes. 

"Here we are on a rainy day in the richest country in the world, in the richest state in the country, in a state that's blue (Democrat) as it can be -- and in a city rife with millionaires -- where teachers have to go on strike to get the basics for our students," Alex Caputo-Pearl, the head of the United Teachers Los Angeles union, told a news conference.

"Here we are in a fight for the soul of public education," Caputo-Pearl added. 

"The question is: do we starve our public neighborhood schools so that they (become) privatized, or do we re-invest in our public neighborhood schools for our students and for a thriving city?"

Although the teachers' union and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) agree that class sizes -- some at more than 40 -- must shrink, teacher salaries must improve and more support staff are needed, they differ on funding.

School district officials insist they have taken great pains to avert a strike and negotiate with the union and say the district simply doesn't have enough money to meet all of the demands.

A revised offer submitted on Friday and calling for roughly $24 million more in funding and 1,200 more teachers for the upcoming school year was rejected.

'WE'D LIKE TO RESOLVE THIS'

LAUSD superintendent Austin Beutner on Monday said his office had reached out to the governor's office and the mayor's office to see if they could help broker a deal.

He said the teachers' demands would cost about $3 billion and push district into insolvency.

"We remain committed to resolve the contract negotiations as soon as possible," Beutner told reporters. "We urge (the union) to resume bargaining with us anytime, anywhere, 24-7. We'd like to resolve this." 

Despite the walkout, the 1,240 schools in the sprawling district remain open, he said, with classes taught by administrators and substitute teachers.

Last spring, a strike by teachers in the state of West Virginia over low wages and rising health care costs set off a wave of similar action in several other states and garnered strong public support.

The walkout in Los Angeles could have a similar effect.

In Denver, Colorado, for example, the teachers union has threatened a strike unless an agreement can be reached by the end of this week on salary conditions.

Teachers' unions across the country offered support for those striking in Los Angeles, with many educators and parents wearing red T-shirts in solidarity.

Red became the signature color of striking teachers last year after an early demonstration called on them to wear "Red4Ed."

Monday's strike action also drew support from Democratic presidential hopeful Elizabeth Warren.

"I support @UTLAnow & LAUSD teachers who are for fighting for better pay, smaller classes, & better resourced schools for our kids," she tweeted. 

"When we fail our public school teachers, we fail their students – and we fail our future. I'm with our teachers all the way.

jz/ft

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US to issue decree on transgender access to school restrooms: NY Times

WASHINGTON - The Obama administration is planning to issue a sweeping decree telling every public school district in the country to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms that match their gender identity, the New York Times reported on Thursday.

The letter to school districts that will go out on Friday describing what they should do to ensure that none of their students are discriminated against is signed by officials of the Justice Department and Education Department, according to the Times.

It does not have the force of law but contains an implicit threat that schools which do not abide by the Obama administration's interpretation of the law could face lawsuits or a loss of federal aid, the newspaper said.

"No student should ever have to go through the experience of feeling unwelcome at school or on a college campus," Education Secretary John King Jr. said in a statement, according to the Times.

"We must ensure that our young people know that whoever they are or wherever they come from, they have the opportunity to get a great education in an environment free from discrimination, harassment and violence," he said.

The move comes as the Obama administration and North Carolina battle in federal court over a state law passed in March that limits public bathroom access for transgender people.

By passing the law, North Carolina became the first state in the country to ban people from using multiple occupancy restrooms or changing rooms in public buildings and schools that do not match the sex on their birth certificate. (Writing by Eric Beech; Editing by Sandra Maler)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Pinoy students fight to keep biggest public school in Cali open

SAN FRANCISCO - Hundreds of people protested at city hall on Thursday, demanding that officials save from closure the San Francisco City College, the state’s biggest public school.

City College is under pressure to show the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges that it could address 14 serious management and fiscal problems, which include claims of misappropriation of funds and overpaid management staff. If it fails to do so, it would lose its federal funding and may be forced to close its doors to over 90,000 students by the summer.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to access higher education. City College is a way for students to access that and it especially helps low-income students, immigrants who can’t afford to go to four-year universities.,” said Angela Madriaga, a member of the Save City College Coalition.

City College also faces budget woes. With its annual operating budget of $200 million, the school already lost $6 million in state funding last year.

Rodel Rodis, who served three terms as City College board president said there are ways to solve it.

“California is number one in the country in terms of spending for prisons and number 49 in terms of spending for education. What the people want is a fundamental change in the priorities of the state,” he said.

Budget cuts have resulted in fewer classes and staff layoffs affecting regular students and those with special needs who attend music, drama, health and computer classes.

For Filipino-American Armando Borjal, losing City College means losing a big part of his Filipino heritage. Besides providing Filipino Ethnic Studies on campus, City College has more Filipino students than any campus in the U.S. — 4,000 in its main campus alone.

“A lot of the classes at City College helped me learn about my being Filipino. In the past, I didn’t know what it meant to be Filipino,” he said.

For now, the commission has required the school to put together a closure plan. A final decision on the fate of San Francisco’s City College is expected on June 10.

source: abs-cbnnews.com