Massive Job Losses on the Horizon

School districts across the country will be laying off teachers and staff in the coming months. For example, Los Angeles Unified plans to cut 5200 jobs. 93% of New Jersey school districts will conduct layoffs. 8500 teachers will likely lose their jobs in New York. And these cuts are playing out all across the country.

This statistics are unfortunate for the teachers involved. But they are also interesting for another reason.

Taking Los Angeles Unified as an example, the school district had planned to lay off over 7000 employees last year. But an influx of funds from the stimulus bill allowed the district to keep all but 2000 employed. One year later, there is no more stimulus money for the schools and so the remaining employees will be let go in 2010 instead.

So, the interesting question is: will President Obama reduce the calculation on the number of jobs "saved" by the stimulus bill? If a job is only extended for a year, is the job "saved?" I think I know how the people laid off would answer that question.