LOS ANGELES, Calif.—The Los Angeles teachers union and school district have agreed to return to the
bargaining table, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office announced Jan. 16. United Teachers Los Angeles President Alex Caputo-Pearl told the Los Angeles Daily News that the union was trying to win both its demands from the Los Angeles Unified School District—which insists it can’t afford them—and increased funding from the state. “There is certainly money within LAUSD,” Caputo-Pearl said, “and there should be the will within LAUSD to meet some of the financial demands—like class size, nurses, counselors—but also to meet some of the things that wouldn’t cost the district any money, like greater accountability for charters.” California is ranked 43rd among the 50 states in per-pupil funding, he added, and “we’ve got to address that, too.” Meanwhile, teachers held rallies at schools around the city on the strike’s third day. “My teachers are striking for all of the things that create better learning conditions for me,” senior Macy Bartlett said at Hamilton High School on the West Side. “We’re here for you because you’re here for us.” Read more
