Los Angeles school district, teachers union agree to shorten school year by 5 days

Los Angeles school year shortened in teachers deal

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles teachers union says it has reached a deal with the school district that would shorten the school year by at least five days, as officials cope with a $640 million budget deficit.

United Teachers Los Angeles spokeswoman Marla Eby says under the agreement reached Saturday, teachers will take five unpaid furlough days this year and seven next year, saving the nation’s largest school district $180 million.

The deal would allow schools to maintain class sizes and save more than 2,000 jobs, including those of 284 librarians, nurses and counselors threatened with layoffs this summer.

The agreement still has to be approved by members of the teacher’s union.