This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
LAUSD Will Pay Its Substitute Teachers During Shutdown
Los Angeles Unified school officials have agreed to continue paying the district’s nearly 3,800 substitute teachers for as long as campuses are closed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
The district’s directive, handed down Wednesday afternoon, will pay substitutes a daily wage during the closure. The amount they’re paid will be based on a sliding scale depending on how much of the current year they’ve worked.
United Teachers Los Angeles — the labor union that also represents substitute teachers — had pushed for a “guaranteed income” for these workers.
“This is good work by the district,” UTLA president Alex Caputo-Pearl said in a video message, “and this is a model that other employers should follow.”
The union for LAUSD’s classified employees, SEIU Local 99, is still negotiating with district officials about their substitutes’ needs during the shutdown, according to union spokeswoman Blanca Gallegos. She said the union represents 100 substitute workers.
GO DEEPER:
SOME STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT COVID-19
We're all living through this extraordinary and frightening pandemic. The vast majority of our newsroom has been working from home (here's some advice on that) since March 11 to bring you calm, helpful reporting. We are answering your questions and taking more.
LAist is known for our events listings but now hopefully we'll be known for our non-event listings and tips for parents to try to keep you sane. And we're looking for your nominations for everyday heroes in this time of crisis. We're here to help. And if you can help support that effort financially, we'd be grateful.