USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera on the school shutdown
By Ellen EvaristoPublished on
Los Angeles public school support staff, teachers and supporters rally outside of the school district headquarters on the first day of a three-day strike. (Photo/The19thNews)
For three days, Los Angeles schools were shut down because of stalled contract negotiations between Los Angeles Unified School District and Local 99 of Service Employees International Union. The union represents school support employees including gardeners, custodians, teacher aides, special education assistants, bus drivers and food service workers. The contract situation has since been resolved and students have returned to the classroom.
During the strike, USC Rossier Dean Pedro Noguera shared his thoughts with members of the media to answer questions about who suffers the most during school strikes and how the district and essential workers can move forward.
“I’m not sure what a strike will accomplish. This is not a good thing for children or families, but at the same time the workers have a legitimate case.” News Nation, March 20, 2023
“Their concerns are not unreasonable. They are very much underpaid, and we know from the pandemic they are essential.” The 19th News, March 21, 2023
“Any disruption to the routine of school makes it more difficult for children to stay on track on their education.” NBC LA, March 23, 2023
“The kids are losing out on their education … The district is losing money each day schools remain closed, which means they’ll have even less to negotiate with. The workers are losing both because they are grossly underpaid and because their action may further weaken the district which they rely upon for their livelihoods.” Los Angeles Times, March 23, 2023
“Part of the rhythm of education is related to being with your peers, being with your teachers. That rhythm got really disrupted during the pandemic ... [Students are] often very anxious about their performance. They might become even more so because they’re not in school.” Los Angeles Daily News, March 22, 2023
"Their demands do not seem outrageous. These are the essential workers who keep the district running." USA Today, March 24, 2023
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