The toughest job at LAUSD

Armed with a pencil that she wields with ruthless precision, Alfreda Theus scrutinizes thousands of Los Angeles Unified School District employee record files. Connie Llanos in the Daily News.

The lists of hire, promotion and job change dates tell the story of every LAUSD employee - and Theus is tasked with being the stern editor.

As the district weighs thousands of layoffs, it is her job ultimately to decide, among some 40,000 non-teacher employees, who keeps their job, who goes and who can be offered a demotion and salary cut to stay employed.