From the eastern corner of the San Fernando Valley to the port town of Wilmington, about 420,000 students and 65,000 workers returned to LAUSD schools on Morning morning following a mammoth 3-day strike that shuttered America’s second-largest school district.
The result of such a historic action? Unclear for now.
Union and district leaders have said that negotiations are continuing, but by the time the school bell rang on Monday there was still no word of a deal.
At 135th Street Elementary in Gardena, students ran inside to escape the Friday morning wind, while Principal Sherree Lewis-DeVaughn said “welcome back” to parents walking their children along the crosswalk, down the sidewalk and up the steps.
“We’re happy to be back,” she said, and the Friday return to school, Lewis-DeVaughn added, “feels like Monday.”
Third-grade parent Chydell Lawson said that the failure to come to a resolution after a three-day strike is unfair to the entire school community.
“They didn’t get anything done, so it’s a waste of time. They deserve the money more than anybody,” Lawson said of teachers and other school staff. “It’s not fair to them, and for the kids to have to miss school.”
District leaders, for their part, expressed hope Monday morning that a deal could be within reach.
“We remain hopeful that we will reach an equitable agreement that recognizes the hard work of our employees and maintains the financial stability of the district,” stated the district on Monday morning. “We know that our students, families and employees are counting on us to reach a resolution.”
Similarly, representatives of SEIU Local 99 — the union representing 30,000 bus drivers, custodians, instructional aides, cafeteria workers and special education assistants — struck an upbeat tone while reflecting on the conclusion of their three-day strike.
“This strike is a huge step forward for every school worker in LAUSD, for our students, our parents and our…
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