Tuesday, April 20, 2010

$640-million deficit

$640-million deficit

Year wraps up, five days sooner

By Estevan Almanza

Editor and Chief

 

The school year will now come to an end five days sooner due to budget cuts. However, Jaguars don’t seem to be bothered.

According LAUSD, due to a $640-million deficit, schools will have to shorten this school year in order to save 2,100 campus workers from losing their jobs.

Both the administrative and teachers union were set to vote on whether or not to shorten the year. The decision was finalized Saturday, April 10. According to the Los Angeles Times approximately 80% of teachers voted “yes” to the five day cut.

“The decision was made to help these teachers keep their jobs and this decision makes me glad. It shows how people care and support others. Teachers have families they have to maintain and provide for. Losing their jobs would be extremely harsh,” said Ms. Torres, a Special Education TA (teaching assistant) at South East High School.

Additionally, Iris Ortiz a senior at SEHS said, “They made the right choice by voting “yes” because without their jobs how would the staff be able to support their families.”

Seniors and other students at SEHS became thrilled with the result of the vote.

Marvin Bosque, a senior at SEHS said, “I think its good and bad because I want to graduate. But, I also want more time with my friends.”

Graduating sooner for senior Ortiz was not a dilemma either.

“For me, it doesn’t matter if I graduate sooner. What matters is that I graduate. I’m just thankful that all of those teachers got to keep their jobs,” said Ortiz.

In spite of that, seniors were not the only ones who agreed to the decision.

Hugo Redendiz, a junior, said, “If I were a senior I would feel excited because I would get the diploma faster and my college life will start sooner as well.”

With graduation day not far away students at SEHS are satisfied with the final decision.