Proposed Walkout Places City Athletic Events in Jeopardy

A proposed walkout on Friday, Nov. 13, by Los Angeles schoolteachers in protest over pay cuts might result in the cancellation of City Section athletic events, including the final football games of the regular season.

Los Angeles Unified School District spokeswoman Diana Munatones said Wednesday that officials will “most likely” cancel all athletic events and extracurricular activities if the teachers walk out. Munatones said the walkout would leave the district with too few qualified personnel to supervise students at after-school events.

District officials are expected to hire substitute teachers and reassign administrators to school supervisory duties during the day, but Munatones said there are no plans to staff events after the school day ends.

It is unclear how cancellation of athletic events--many of which have playoff implications--would affect City Section postseason play, scheduled to begin the following week.

City Section Commissioner Hal Harkness did not return phone calls Wednesday. Through his secretary, Harkness said he had no comment on the possible walkout.

Union leaders Tuesday called for the walkout after negotiations with the district stalled over whether pay cuts can be prevented next year. Teachers already face a 12% salary cut in their paychecks Friday.

Many area coaches are upset that the union chose a Friday for the walkout. Union leaders said they selected the day because of its symbolism--Friday the 13th--and to give the district time to present a new offer while the sides continue to negotiate.

“They could have chosen any other day, but they chose that Friday,” said a disappointed Sylmar football Coach Jeff Engilman. “It’s tough for a coach to ask kids to give 100 percent total commitment, and then one day you just don’t show up for them.”

Said Reseda football Coach Joel Schaeffer: “I just hope they’re not using the football games as a tool to get more publicity,” he said. “As a teacher, I am sympathetic to the problems we’re facing, but I don’t think football games should be used as pawns.”

United Teachers-Los Angeles President Helen Bernstein said football had nothing to do with the decision to target a Friday for the walkout.

“I don’t think anyone ever thought about it,” Bernstein said. “Football is important, but it is not the only issue here.”

Regardless, coaches feel torn by their loyalties to their players and fellow teachers.

“I feel I owe a lot to my fellow teachers and I want to support them, but I also owe a lot to my players,” Poly football Coach Fred Cuccia said. “I plan to play, but if the district says we can’t, then obviously that’s another story. I just hope it doesn’t have to come to that.”

If the district does not cancel events, coaches will face another decision: whether to honor the walkout. Most coaches surveyed in an informal poll said their coaching responsibilities take precedence.

“I still haven’t heard anything official yet about what would happen if we walked out, but if I can’t coach, I’m not going to walk out,” Granada Hills football Coach Darryl Stroh said.

“I intend to support a strike as much as I can, but I’m not going to destroy the kids’ season for one day.”

Marvin Jones, coach of Taft’s No. 1-ranked girls’ tennis team in the 4-A Division, said he is uncertain whether he would honor the walkout, which would come on the day the City finals are scheduled.

“I hope something is done between the bargaining units,” Jones said. “The walkout proposal is to make the public more aware. (Walking out) is something I need to think about. I’ve never been involved in something like this.”

David Coulson contributed to this story.