Los Angeles Unified's Interim Superintendent Ramon Cortines ordered a hiring freeze Wednesday, citing "significant deficits" for the next two school years,  according to a memo obtained by KPCC.

"Although initiating a more stringent hiring freeze is not something that I wish to do, I feel that it is not only necessary but a prudent approach to an inevitable reality," Cortines said in the memo. 

The freeze begins Dec. 1 and runs through Jan. 30. The hiring freeze will not affect teachers and principals, but rather central and other staff. 

"I will review the budgetary success of this freeze at the end of January, and will decide at that time if it should be continued," Cortines said in the memo.

L.A. Unified has more cash on hand than it has had for years: revenues increased $332 million in state funds from last school year. 

The school board passed a $7.3 billion budget crafted by former Superintendent John Deasy and top staffers, with plans to hire 1,200 new positions.

Two weeks ago, KPCC confirmed many of those positions have yet to be filled.

Deasy promised to hire 192 library aides to open shuttered elementary libraries across the district. Instead, the number of elementary library staff decreased, and 100,000 students are still without access to campus libraries.

The district is amidst contract negotiations with the teachers union and has yet to reach an agreement.

Union officials couldn't be immediately reached for comment. 

School board member Bennett Kayser said: "Superintendent Cortines is doing the right thing with this non-school site hiring freeze; he is prioritizing classrooms and schools and students."

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated the types of staffers affected by the freeze. The types were based on district information that was later corrected.