Acting Superintendent Andres E. Chait and other district officials held a press conference Thursday morning to respond to the strike announcement.
"We're working with external partners to see about child care, food services for our students. We're looking, of course, at the impact on our campuses," Chait said.
The acting superintendent acknowledged the situation would be difficult if the strike did happen.
"I will say, just on a very practical level, when you have three unions - UTLA, SEIU and AALA - who have all indicated that they would strike together, it is exceedingly difficult, if not nearly impossible, to maintain schools open during that scenario."
LAUSD teachers union says it will go on strike April 14 if no contract is reached
On Wednesday, United Teachers Los Angeles, Service Employees International Union Local 99 and Associated Administrators of Los Angeles said they would go on strike April 14. Despite announcing a strike date, union officials noted that a walkout could be avoided if negotiations lead to a contract agreement.
UTLA officials said the union is calling for wage increases totaling roughly 17% over two years - saying teachers are not being paid enough to afford to live in Los Angeles. The union is also calling for no layoffs, increased hours and staffing for student services, protections against subcontracting and artificial intelligence that might replace educators, smaller classes, more mental health and special education staff and counselors, and expanded arts and physical education programs.
The district has offered about an 8% raise plus a bonus. The district says it's also proposed reducing class sizes but warns the cost of a larger deal could strain its budget long-term.
Teachers have been working without a contract since last year. Even though they just reached a new deal less than three years ago, the 30,000-plus members of the teachers union say it's not enough.
The last time UTLA teachers went on strike was in 2019. That strike lasted for about six days.
The potential strike comes just weeks after Superintendent Alberto Carvalho was placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation after the FBI raided his home and the district's office last month.
District officials say, despite this, the focus remains to negotiate and avoid a strike.