The LA Unified board is preparing for a big spend on health care tomorrow when the members vote to approve a tentative agreement with eight labor partners on a package of benefits through 2018. But Monica Ratliff, the District 6 member, said in a statement this morning from the district that she wants to delay...

The LA Unified school board decided to start school one week later for the 2015-16 academic year in a compromise that board member Tamar Galatzan — who voted in favor it — summed up as “the worst of both worlds.” The 5-1 vote means students will begin classes on Aug. 18 next academic year. The...

The LA Unified school board voted unanimously yesterday to approve a “Fiscal Stabilization Plan” that calls for cuts, layoffs and smarter spending decisions to balance the 2015-2016 budget by June 30. In a separate vote, the board agreed, 5-2, to issue more than 600 teacher layoff notices for the first time in two years. Despite massive...

Superintendent Ramon Cortines told the LA Unified board today that he believes the state will delay using statewide computerized test results for any official measures. “The word on the street is that they’re looking favorably that this year’s test will not count,” he said during a discussion of the the district’s use of computers for...

The LA Unified school board is scheduled to meet today at 1 p.m. Among the agenda items of interest is discussion about potential layoffs as the district looks to balance a budget deficit of $160 million for next year. Also on the agenda is discussion about upgrades to some rundown schools and a number of charter school...

* UPDATED Despite new money from the state, LA Unified Superintendent Ramon Cortines is taking direct aim at the district’s $160 million budget deficit with proposed layoffs that include hundreds of teachers. District officials have calculated that to reduce the deficit, the number of teachers, administrators, counselors and nurses — certificated employees — must be...

Charter school supporters battling for a stronger influence over the LA Unified school board have the checkbook ready again. After providing heavy financial support for newcomer Ref Rodriguez, winner over District 5 incumbent Bennett Kayser last night, the charter group is weighing how much to spend for Rodriguez in the weeks leading to the May 19...

LA Unified lawyers will start taking on student deportation cases on a pro-bono and volunteer basis, making it the first school district in the country to represent immigrant children. Under the new legal program called AYUDA — that’s Spanish for “help” — district lawyers will provide legal aid to a small number of unaccompanied minors...

The LA Unified school board is scheduled to meet today at 1 p.m. Items of interest on the agenda include consideration of the AYUDA program, which involves district lawyers potentially doing pro-bono work on student deportation cases, and a review of Gerawan Farming and its potential food contracts with the district. Click here to get the...