[dropcap size=big]T[/dropcap]he Los Angeles school district and the union representing 34,000 educators once again failed to bridge differences over a new employment contract in last-minute talks Monday at LAUSD headquarters in downtown L.A. The strike could start as early as Thursday.
The district said it increased its offer to $105 million to reduce class sizes by hiring some 1,000 additional staff members including teachers, counselors, nurses, and librarians. Its previous offer was $30 million. The union said the offer accounts for less than one new employee per school, which they argue is not enough to stem growing class sizes.
They met as some 600,000 L.A. students returned to classes Monday with the city on the verge of its first teachers strike in a generation.
The union and district will meet again Wednesday. They are not meeting Tuesday because they are scheduled to fight in court over whether UTLA gave enough legal notice in announcing the strike, which could delay a walkout by at least four days.