LAUSD Workers Rally Against Proposed Job Cuts

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A group of LAUSD workers were rallying support early this morning to put an end to proposed cuts and layoffs that are being voted on today.

As dawn was breaking in Downtown Los Angeles, a group of passionate advocates were already yelling in protest of two hundred and eight proposed layoffs. It was 6 a.m., still dark and freezing cold - but that was the least of everyone's worries.

"Stop the cuts! Stop the cuts! Stop the cuts!" they yelled as they waved large neon signs.

These proposed layoffs are specifically targeting special service workers in the district like school psychologists, librarians and mental health workers; people who are directly helping kids with the problems they face.

"They prevent kids from dropping out, they keep kids safe," said Jose Lara, a teacher's union activist.

"They work with poor neglected youth. Children from foster homes, children who have been abused at home and need the extra counseling and support in order to be successful in the classroom. When you cut those people then what you're doing is throwing away those kids and leaving them behind," Lara said.

Those who came out in support continued to stress the fact that having special service employees is essential in struggling schools.

"Having these professionals on campus is really a life or death situation for many students," teacher Ron Gochez said.

"We're there as a front line to help provide them with that support. When people are at the business level it's always easy to cut the people who are down doing the grunt work but that's what we're there for,” said another supporter.

A candidate who is running for the LA School Board in March, Robert Skeels, was out waving signs too. He isn't a teacher but he understands what they are up against.

"My community asked me to run precisely because of situations like this. The budget priorities and the policies of this school board do not reflect those of the wishes of the community,” said Skeels.

Skeels says there is another proposal on the School Board's Agenda today that also doesn't reflect the wishes of the community.

"On the same day that they're talking about laying off 208 vital service personnel, they're also voting on giving away millions of dollars worth of iPads to students. Those kind of priorities don't reflect those of our community. We believe that that money should be spent providing services to our students,” Skeels exclaimed.

So they're all out here rallying but what are they hoping to accomplish? Gochez thinks they've already made an impression.

"Well we know that we've gotten the attention of the school board, of the district. We saw that the Superintendent was already out here at five in the morning. Everyone who supports education, we're going to continue to pressure so that they stop the layoffs,” Said Gochez.

Lara wanted to leave me with one final statement that - very passionately - pretty much sums up what they are striving to achieve.

"These cuts are unacceptable. We call on the leadership from the School Board president Monica Garcia to do the right thing and vote for these cuts," said Lara.

As the sun was still rising, the cries of protest continued. Dedicated teachers and LAUSD employees will keep fighting for their cause - and their jobs – as they await the School Board’s vote results.

-Emilie Mateu reporting