Sparse crowd at LAUSD meeting
Forum is meant to solicit public input before board picks new superintendent.
The nation’s second-largest school district invited the public this week to talk about what it wants in a leader, but only about two dozen people showed up at the initial event.
The meeting was in the auditorium at Edward R. Roybal Learning Center just west of downtown, the first of many gatherings scheduled by the Los Angeles Unified School District. Officials tried to make community members feel welcome, offering coffee cake, bottled water and other goodies — enough for a much larger crowd.
L.A. Unified is trying to select a superintendent by the end of the year, when Supt. Ramon C. Cortines has said he would like to step down. Cortines took over a year ago when then-Supt. John Deasy resigned under pressure. The schools chief manages a $12.6-billion agency while also confronting lagging student achievement. The district must deal with declining enrollment and a plan, spearheaded by philanthropist Eli Broad, to move 50% of L.A. Unified students into charter schools.
The Board of Education, which will choose a successor, has decided to recruit, evaluate and interview applicants confidentially. Board members also insist that community input matters to them.
Consultant Hank Gmitro, a retired superintendent, led the meeting, cajoling people to talk. No one seemed to want to speak first, so Gmitro broke the ice by asking what people liked about the LAUSD.
After a slightly awkward silence, parent Rachel Greene said very experienced teachers need additional support.
Anyone else? Gmitro asked. Again, silence. Gmitro repeated the question.
Greene politely filled the gap again.
“It’s right down the street,” she offered.
“Close by,” echoed Gmitro.
His two colleagues from Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates got it down; they’ll be submitting a report on community input to the school board. The district website lists 25 public forums, but the total number of meetings is even larger, as times also are set for principals, teachers, civic leaders and others.
Eventually, other people joined the conversation and it grew more lively.
Wayne V. Lewis, a teacher at Bernstein High School, said the next superintendent would need to appreciate the differences between traditional schools and charter schools and have a thorough understanding of operations, based on having served in various roles in a school system.
He made it clear that he would like to see Michelle King, the district’s secondin-command, get the job.
The ability to rein in and oversee charter schools was important to several teachers and parents, who believe charters are draining resources from L.A. Unified and pushing out students who are harder to educate.
Charters are independently operated and exempt from some rules that govern traditional schools.
A more consistent refrain was the call for an experienced educator. One person hoped the leader also would be “God-fearing.” Gmitro also learned that the next leader needs the human touch, should monitor schools more closely, select better principals, focus on training and supporting teachers and provide technology without spending wastefully.
The session was conducted in English and Spanish, with the aid of wireless headsets and translators.
Lucia Ortiz, 16, a senior at Lincoln High, wanted students to have a greater voice in decision-making.
Parent Guillermina Ceuva, who spoke in Spanish, raised some concerns, included the amount of money allotted to raises for the teachers union rather than to benefit students.
After about an hour and 15 minutes, participants were ready for coffee cake.
For a list of forums, go to http://achieve.lausd.net/ nextsuperintendent.