KTLA News: "Proposition 13's impact on school" (1978)

[Mr. Baxter, PELA spokesman on left] I don't believe in the tooth fairy, so I really don't believe that they will resign. [Baxter] I think that these are willful purposeful men who have their own egoistic opinions and attachments. [Baxter] And they are convinced that they are right. [Baxter] And they will have their own way, whether the people, or the teachers, or the children, like it or not. [No audio] [Howard Miller] We have our obligation, to public education in this state, and we should continue to fight for public education, ah, in this state. The truth of the matter is, we are in the most serious, crisis that public education has ever faced. That's the reality. But you know we're now in a phase where the events will show what is happening. The Superintendent of Public Instruction has called, for example, for all summer schools in the state to not be held. There's a very serious question about school opening in September. We have lost and are now short, legally, seven hundred fifty million dollars from our budget. [No audio] [Bobbi Fiedler] By the Superintendent's own statement in yesterday's "Los Angeles Times," the budget law estimates have been revised from the seven hundred fifty million dollar, pre vote rhetoric, to two hundred million dollars. This places us at a budget level just below our 1976, '77 budget. So the job we face, is not how to wield a meat axe, but how to creatively use the funds that we have. [No audio] [Street noise, protesters chant] We want summer school. We want summer school. [Protesters chant] We want summer school. We want summer school. [Protesters chant] We want summer school. We want summer school. [Protesters chant] We want summer school. We want summer school. [Protesters chant] We want summer school. We want summer, [Fiedler] I am here today to present the people of Los Angeles constructive alternatives to the Board's, so-called, doomsday budget. That they take the following steps. One. Make a comparison of the last three budgets identifying any new item, or items which have increased with an eye towards their reduction or elimination where practical. Two. Offer summer school programs for remedial purposes only, and only at those schools where necessary. To house the students on an area basis, rather than at every school. Three. Reduce the number of adult schools from twenty nine to twelve and offer for free, only those programs, leading to a high school diploma and mandated bilingual programs. All other programs will be offered on a fee paid by student basis. Consolidate, number four, with other school districts in the County, the joint development of instructional materials, and other areas that are duplicated on a district by district basis. Five. The closure of Channel 58, unless other school districts wish to share in its funding. Six. The consolidation of the twelve area offices into three or four area offices. Seven. The Institution [camera noise] review and consolidation of the responsibilities of all district departments. [Camera noise] [Fiedler] looking can be provided by either outside agencies or private enterprise, to be identified. Ten. Efforts should be made to identify a [Camera noise] with this I have written to Governor Brown suggesting that the disbursement of, [Camera noise] [Stan Chambers, KTLA 5 Reporter] Assuming these go into effect, can the school district operate without the massive cut backs that are threatened. [Fiedler] They certainly can. In fact, Um, as was mentioned earlier, the district in order to reduce the class size from a twenty seven to one student teacher ratio, According to staff will have to find seventeen hundred and eighty six additional teachers. Right now, they don't know whether they will actually have to reduce the teaching staff or not, come September. [Chambers] You were told there was going, there was a seven hundred fifty thousand dollar deficit. Yes, we certainly were told that. [Reporter] What, would you comment on that? My comment is that they have been exaggerating. Ah, from the very beginning, they have not included any potential revenue at all from any property taxes. In other words, they were reducing all of the monies received from property taxes. Where, in fact, we will receive a prorated share. I feel, very certain that we will. From the remaining property tax revenue that will be collected. [Reporter] Why is Mr. Miller saying this now, after the election? Because he's not happy, with the decision of the people. [Reporter, unintelligible] [Chambers] Doesn't that tell him something? Yes, it certainly should tell him that he's not representing the point of view of the people, but then perhaps, that's not what he's there for. [Reporters talk over each other, unintelligible] What? [Reporter] How do you feel about the calls for his resignation and Mr. Johnston? I can understand the frustration, on the part of the teachers and on the part of a good number of citizens. With the kind of leadership that they believe he has shown, in not only this issue, but the integration issue. Ah, in the past several years, there has been a great deal of difference of opinion between the general public, and the positions that he has taken, and I think that when you take positions that are seriously contrary to those of the constituents you're supposed to represent that, that is the kind of reaction you could anticipate. [Reporter] Do you support him? It means that I support the most representative people in public office. I think that my election was a mandate, and a beginning step. I think that Proposition 13 is another step in this issue. I think that, the people have become awakened after a long period of dormancy, in terms of their participation in government. And that they are going to be looking for the most representative elected officials that they can find. And it will be up to them to determine who they believe are going to represent them in the future. It means that I believe that the people should make that decision. And I believe that they will. [Reporter, unintelligible] I would have to give that serious consideration. [Chambers] Could you explain to us, [No audio] [Reporter] call to have you resign, you and Mr. Jones. [Miller] No such luck and I think those events will demonstrate really the kind of serious situation we're in. [Reporter] [?] that you're still trying to fight Proposition 13, We're not trying to fight Proposition 13. We're trying to save public education in California. It is my belief that the voters in approving Proposition 13, have a mandate for tax reduction, which is here and tax reform which is here. But I do not think the voters of California voted to destroy public education in California. And I, and a great many others, are going to continue to fight to preserve public education in California. [Ch. 7 Reporter] Mrs. Fiedler says cuts can be made in the budget so as not to lay off any permanent teachers. And she says in fact, right now, you're trying to recruit, [Ch 7 Reporter] over seventeen hundred new teachers at the same time you sent the layoff notices out to eighteen thousand. How about that? Well of course, we're not trying to recruit new teachers. There is no contract of any kind that we've signed within the past several months that does not contain a clause that if this initiative passes, the contract is invalid. The truth of the matter is that eighty percent of all our expenditures go for people. When we lose money, eighty percent of that is for people. And therefore, we face a very serious situation. But as I said, we are now at a time where the events will demonstrate what is happening more than what anyone says. [Ch. 7 Reporter] Well, what about, not laying off permanent teachers? [Ch. 7 Reporter] She says cuts can be made so as to completely exempt permanent teachers from layoffs. Well, I very much hope that you look at whatever proposals are put forth in terms of their impact and their numbers. There is just a basic truth here. Which is that eighty percent of all expenditures are for people. For teachers and classified employees. Whatever cuts of any magnitude you talk about, eighty percent are for people. Its people that are affected. There's a reality here. To run schools, you need money. When you legally lose seven hundred and fifty million dollars, and you don't have that, you face the threat of people being laid off. But once again, we are past the point of statements, simply determining these things. In the days and weeks ahead, in Los Angeles, and throughout California, events will determine what the reality is. [Chambers] Mr. Miller, to follow Mark's question, she has a fourteen point proposal that we presented on Monday. [Chambers] And she says that permanent teachers do not have to, ah, be laid off and that the district can meet its responsibilities. Well, that proposal will be submitted for analysis, and we shall take a look at it and see. And I very much hope that those of you who heard that today, will look at that analysis and analyze it yourself. First of all, you know, we don't know what's going to be coming from Sacramento. The numbers change constantly. What we do know is that at this moment, ah, we don't have enough to open, or to function. And I hope you'll suggest all of these proposals, ah, to very close analysis and see how they finally turn out when the analysis comes in. In fact, there's no way, to cut two hundred million, three hundred million, seven hundred million or any number of that magnitude, without very seriously impacting upon our employees. [Ch. 7 Reporter] Well, now, [Camera noise] cuts and about how eighty percent of your money goes in salaries. [Ch. 7 Reporter] Okay, she's saying that's well and good perhaps you can cut people out, [Camera noise] [Miller] We no longer have long-term substitutes in the district, except in a very small number. Ah, virtually our entire teacher, [Camera noise] [Chambers] At this juncture no one knows for sure just how much money for schools will come from Sacramento. Board President Howard Miller maintains his stands that drastic cutbacks will be necessary. And yet board member, Bobby Fiedler, said this morning, that although some twenty thousand teachers received their termination notices because of the economic impacts and uncertainties of Proposition 13. Under her plan, she did not believe that a single permanent teacher would have to be fired. Stan Chambers, Channel 5 News Watch, reporting. [Ambient noise] [PELA President, on right] the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1952. I am a parent and a resident of Los Angeles and I am current President, for the resignation of Superintendent William Johnston, and the Los Angeles Board of Education President, Howard Miller. By definition, leadership is a quality of a leader. The capacity to lead. One who inspires. One who sets an example. When those who are in position of leadership, do not lead in ways that subordinates deserve. Then for the good of all, they need to step aside, to allow real leaders to take the reins. Several times, before the passage of Prop. 13, we urged the board of education, and Dr. Johnston, to realistically look at the budget and have an alternate, if needed. All they could think of, was fighting Prop 13, at that time, and still seem to be fighting it. They are keeping the pressure on teachers. The ones who ultimately are responsible for the success of a sound educational program. The teachers are being herded like cattle to hearings, at great cost of time and money. And there's no legal reason to hold these hearings. There are hundreds of people in our district, who are not in the classroom. Hundreds of certificated, personnel, who never see children. We need to safeguard the classroom and those actually involved in the teaching process. Natural attrition, [Camera noise] public indicated that they must control tax money by their vote last Tuesday. [PELA President] When a third party is able, [Camera noise] [No audio] [Baxter] Events are further verification of the line, [Camera noise] resign immediately for the good of the district. Thank you. [Reporter] Mr. Baxter, what, [Chambers] What do you think will happen if Dr. Johnson and Mr. Miller resigned? What would happen? [Baxter] Do things differently. I am a classroom teacher. [Reporter] How would you, [Baxter] I do not use coercion and manipulation of the children before whom I am a leader. [Reporter] How would you perform their job differently? [Baxter] In every way. [Reporter] Specifically. [Baxter] I would abdicate the use of coercion and manipulation. I would set my priorities right. [Reporter, unintelligible] [Baxter] Which is the education of children. [Baxter] Not their classification, their categorization, and their ultimate movement for some other purpose which does not meet quality educational needs. [Reporter] Would you defy integration? [Baxter] No, integration, [Reporter, unintelligible] [Baxter] integration is a natural occurrence in a free society. [Baxter] It is not the consequence of coercion and manipulation. [Reporter] What would you do about the court mandate? [?] [Baxter] We have appeals that are available to this board, and have been all along, but this board has not seen fit, [Baxter] to engage in due process, to the rights of the parties that they were elected and appointed to represent. And they have chosen not to seek and follow through on due process rights to which this school district is entitled. Because their priorities are out of order. They are bound by their own premise. [Chambers] Mr. Baxter, it appears that you're condemning the entire school operation in the city of Los Angeles. In a sense, I am. If every teacher in this district could come here this morning, they would say and agree with the things I am saying. And I would challenge this press, to verify what I'm saying. But not by going, but to the so-called leadership of this district, so-called. But to go to the classroom teacher. And take them out in the middle of the playground where they can't be overheard. And ask them, if what I'm saying is true. [Chambers] Can it be changed? Absolutely. [Chambers] How? It begins to change by changing the examples before the subordinates in any system? Your own radio stations, your own newspapers, cannot function if your leadership oppresses and coerces and manipulates you. You understand that is a natural characteristic of human experience. It absolutely is an abomination, in the public school system. Because we're training children that the use of manipulation, the use of the abdication of personal responsibility, is acceptable. Well it's not. It's not acceptable to parents that love their children. And it's not acceptable to teachers that love their children. [Reporters talk over each other, unintelligible] Just the fact, that, [No audio]