L.A. school board delays vote on massive budget cuts

 The Los Angeles Board of Education has delayed a vote on a $6-billion budget plan that would cause thousands of employees to lose their jobs, end all adult education classes, and remove funding for early education and arts programs.

Instead, the board directed Supt. John Deasy to work with his staff and teacher unions to develop a proposal that avoids eliminating these and other programs.

The extra time will allow the parties to consider new state budget information, said board member Steve Zimmer, who proposed the delay.

The board also moved to allow the superintendent to begin preparing layoff notices for thousands of teachers and support staff.

The pink slips could be sent to all adult and early education teachers and teachers who have yet to earn tenure protections, as well as nurses, librarians, school psychologists, counselors and others. The district has had more than 8,000 layoffs over the last four years but eventually hired many back.

The current plan would bridge a $557-million deficit for next year in the nation's second-largest school system. Even if it was approved by the school board, a final version of the budget probably would be months away.

In an effort to increase revenue, the board also directed Deasy to prepare a parcel tax proposal on properties within district boundaries. The proposal would have to be approved by the board before being placed on the ballot in June, November or March 2013.

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