The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Tuesday began considering a controversial proposal that eliminate hundreds of positions
At the center of the proposed layoff is whether the district should cut 731 positions amid a budget deficit driven by a declining enrollment and a loss of one-time COVID funds.
The projected deficits for the LAUSD are $877 million for the 2026-2027 school year, according to a financial report from December 2025.
By a March 15 deadline, 2,600 employees would receive routine annual notices whether their contracts are coming to an end, according to an LAUSD spokesperson.
The LAUSD also explained the potential cuts would involve 657 central office and centrally-funded positions, including gardeners, IT support technicians and assistant bus area supervisors. While 52 positions would get fewer hours under the proposed plan, 22 positions will get a basis change, a representative from the LAUSD told NBC Los Angeles.
“The action would affect less than 1% of the Los Angeles Unified workforce,” the spokesperson said.
The district said teachers and counselors are not included in the proposed job cuts.
But the union for LAUSD teachers may walk off the job if the layoff plan is approved. According to Cecily Myart-Cruz, President of the United Teachers Los Angeles, the union has already taken a strike authorization vote with 94% of the members already agreeing to go on a strike.
“These are bus drivers. These are people that support teachers in the classroom – people that care for kids in recess,” Max Arias, Executive Director for SEIU Local 99, said.
Tuesday’s board meeting was the first part of the consideration process as final decisions won’t be made until May.