New L.A. Schools Chief to Be Paid $178,000 a Year

Ruben Zacarias, who becomes superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District three weeks from today, signed a $178,000-a-year contract Monday.

The contract lasts three years, from the day after Supt. Sid Thompson resigns through June 30, 2000. It will continue for a fourth year unless Zacarias or the Board of Education objects.

“I’m very pleased,” said Zacarias, 69, who will receive another $10,000 a year to cover insurance and expense allowances.

His contract pays him substantially more than Gov. Pete Wilson, who is paid $114,000, having refused another $17,000 in raises.

Zacarias, a deputy superintendent chosen over two other finalists last month, takes on the district’s top job at a time of great challenges--with declining test scores, dwindling enthusiasm about education reforms and increasing pressure to split the mammoth system into smaller districts.

He will make about $11,000 more a year than Thompson. None of the extra money will be tied to performance goals, despite suggestions from some board members that a portion of the new superintendent’s salary should be linked to improvements in student test scores or other measurable goals.

Board member David Tokofsky, who had championed the incentives approach, voted against the contract Monday. Board President Jeff Horton, who also wanted more measurable goals, voted no on the salary portion of the contract.

Dozens of Zacarias supporters crowded the board room to witness the contract’s signing and lashed out at Tokofsky when they learned of the vote tally, threatening to campaign against him when he seeks reelection.

But Tokofsky defended his decision, pointing out that he was among the majority who had voted to hire Zacarias for the post. Horton had voted against Zacarias’ appointment.

“I voted for the man when we chose a superintendent, but now we’re not voting for the man,” Tokofsky said. “Now it’s a contract between the leader and the board acting as representatives of the people’s will. . . . And I’m pretty sure that what most people want to see are some kind of benchmarks.”

The school board spent most of Monday afternoon discussing a supplement to the contract that would list some of the areas where board members want to see improvement, such as school safety and student achievement. No decisions were reached, however, and another closed-door meeting was scheduled for next week.