Colleagues, Here’s a brief update on some current issues: - Planned Layoffs. The school board approved eliminating 198 teacher positions for the next school year in the following tenure areas: 49 Elementary; 28 Reading; 21 Speech and Language; 21 ESOL; 20 Special Education; 15 Social Work; 15 Physical Education; 12 Art; 5 Guidance Counseling; 5 Math. All this in addition to the nearly 100 teaching positions eliminated in the mid-year cuts last January for this school year. The cuts targeted our most vulnerable students and their teachers, schools, programs and services. Some of the projected teacher layoffs may be averted by the projected retirements and resignations.  - Negotiations. We were on the verge of achieving a tentative agreement for a successor contract last September when the news hit about the District’s budget deficit. Subsequently, the District wanted to meet only to seek concessions. Our position was, and remains, that negotiations should resume where...