LA Schools Chief Proposes Shorter Year, Higher Property Tax

Drastic times require drastic measures seems to be the approach of the LA Unified School District, where the coming school year's budget deficit has widened from $470 million to $640 million. In the past, LAUSD has resorted to layoffs in trying to solve the deficit. This time, Superintendent Ramon Cortines has proposed cutting the school year by six days and asking voters to approve a $100 parcel tax increase. Professor John Rogers is Director of UCLA's Institute for Democracy, Education and Access.