Amid LAUSD budget crisis, Supt. Chait touts gains, trades Carvalho's flash for a quieter tone

This is read by an automated voice.Please report any issues or inconsistencies here.

See more from the L.A.Times in Google Search.

Set us as preferred New Los Angeles schools Supt.Andrés E.

Chait made a calm official entry Tuesday into a school system that faces a projected financial crisis, declining enrollment and legal attack from the Trump administration, citing student test scores that continue to rise and “a sense of belonging” that binds school communities.In his first annual “state of the district” speech, held at Garfield High in East Los Angeles, Chait, 51, talked of stability, hard work well done and school district family values.He tamped down concerns over a looming multibillion-dollar deficit, immigration raids that have depressed attendance and enrollment and the sudden change in leadership that left him in charge of the nation’s second-largest school system.

Chait became acting superintendent in February and accepted the permanent job on June 24.Eight days later, the Los Angeles County education office — a financial oversight agency — said recent school board budget decisions “erode confidence” in the district’s ability to avoid bankruptcy.

California L.A.Unified must detail steep budget cuts or face a county takeover after officials warned that school board decisions ‘erode confidence.’L.A.

Unified had overextended itself in newly approved union contracts and faces a deficit that, if unchecked, would grow to $3.585 billion by June 30, 2029, the county said.This year’s budget calls for spending $20.6 billion.The Board of Education had already approved a plan with cuts that would eliminate the deficit, but county officials said oversight is necessary given recent actions that exacerbated the problem, such as canceling hundreds of authorized layoffs.

Chait has said he is prepared to take the steps necessary to balance the books — and the district has committed to slashing thousands of jobs, among other measu...