This week United Teachers Los Angeles, or UTLA, set Thursday, Jan. 10 for the start of a strike by teachers at the Los Angeles Unified School District. The walkout would be the first in 30 years in the nation’s second largest school district. In this podcast, Louis and John explore the main areas of contention and causes for distrust that could make it challenging to overcome the stalemate between the union and LAUSD Superintendent Austin Beutner. They speak with Kyle Stokes, a reporter from Southern California Public Radio station KPCC, who has reported extensively on the crisis.
Another district dealing with a budget crisis and tense relations with teachers is Oakland Unified. Louis talks with Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell about, among other things, the prospect of having to close a sizable number of schools to balance her budget.
For background:
- Why LAUSD’s 30,000 Teachers Might Go On Strike (Kyle Stokes, KPCC & LAist)
- Los Angeles teachers plan to strike Jan. 10, union says (EdSource)
- Oakland risks state takeover if it fails to make budget cuts, state and county officials warn (EdSource)