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"We saw last week something extraordinary," said Mr. Caputo-Pearl. "We took the idea of negotiating for the common good. Public education desperately needs attention. "
The strike drew attention to the fact that California, one of the richest and most liberal states in the country, spends relatively little money on its public schools. While they announced the outline of the agreement, MM. Garcetti, Beutner and Caputo-Pearl declined to give specific details on how the district would pay for the changes, but school officials said they would need more money local voters. and the state.
"We spend every penny we have," said Mr. Beutner. "Everything is planned for schools. It's the beginning, not the end.
Many changes, including limiting the number of students per class and the number of full-time nurses in each school, would be progressively implemented, officials said. Given that these changes would occur over the next three years, the focus of the agreement was on how the district would generate the $ 403 million needed to pay for additional staff. District officials announced Tuesday that they plan to propose a local parcel tax by 2020, which would require the approval of two-thirds of the electorate's sprawling school district voters. Mr. Beutner also said that he was expecting attention now turning to Sacramento for increased funding.
The state's limited education expenditures are largely attributable to its property tax laws, and in particular to Proposition 13, a voted poll initiative. 1978 which severely limits tax rates and makes increases difficult to enforce. The fast-growing large suburbs have suffered less legally than larger urban systems like the Los Angeles Unified School District, where declining enrollment and rising pension and health care costs have created budget problems year after year.
and local leaders described the strike as a decisive turning point for California public schools. It is far from clear that there is a political will to change the property tax laws throughout the state. The union and district representatives both support a voting measure that would increase taxes on commercial but non-residential properties in 2020.
The strike settlement is also an important achievement for Mr. Garcetti, who Has no formal power over the School System. Although he publicly supports the teachers, he played a mediating role and helped to reach an agreement during the days of negotiations at City Hall. Before the strike, Mr. Garcetti had largely avoided getting involved in public schools, but, with national attention on the strike and the mayor considering a presidential candidacy in 2020, he seemed impatient to get involved last week.
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