Leadership at LAUSD

A tragedy continues to occur in our city: Our children, and indeed all residents in Los Angeles, are being sacrificed to the ethnic bickering and posturing of people in power. The Los Angeles Unified School District Board and superintendent are at odds on managing the district and its overwhelming problems. The management issues are lost in the midst of refusal to take responsibility by the superintendent and inability to move forward effectively by the board.

Someone must bring together the students, families, faculty and administrators of the district to address the perennial issue of quality education. Everyone must take responsibility for the overall good. Ethnically divisive issues must be recognized and addressed sensitively; then move on, for the sake of the educational survival of our children.

REBECCA TILLBERG

Los Angeles

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Re “Zacarias’ Latino Backers Vent Outrage at Board,” Oct. 16: The gumption exhibited by the Board of Education to hire Howard Miller to become LAUSD’s new chief executive is a breath of fresh air! The education of the children in the district is the primary concern of the board and the action to improve management of the LAUSD is a promising start.

The anger of the Latino activists is misguided. Their focus should also be the children, but it is quite obvious that the politics of race is their only interest. Supt. Ruben Zacarias was given a chance to try to turn things around and he has not been successful. The test scores, the outdated textbooks, the Belmont fiasco and the contamination concerns about the South Gate school site are proof enough that something needs to change.

To the Latino activists, please focus on the children. To the parents who threaten to keep their kids out of school in protest, please do not be so shortsighted--your children need to be in school to learn. The children should not be used as your political football.

To the Board of Education, especially President Genethia Hayes for her leadership, thank you for finally focusing on issues of importance!

TERESA P. PALOS

West Los Angeles

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The new members of the school board have divided the city in the manner in which they are attempting to oust the superintendent. To meet secretly and appoint a non-credentialed person to run the district is against the Education Code of California.

Zacarias ascended from the ranks and during his short two-year tenancy has performed well. It is a gross affront to portray him as a sleeping lifeguard as all the students drown (Michael Ramirez, cartoon, Oct. 15). Ramirez has lost my respect.

JOHN R. CENTENO

San Clemente

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Re the Oct. 17 commentaries by Frank del Olmo and Richard Polanco: Del Olmo has it wrong about the clumsy dethronement of Zacarias. What was “clumsy” was the unethical way in which the outgoing board extended his contract knowing full well that the new incoming board was going to remove him.

As for Polanco, he is a racist. The despicable, racist campaign he orchestrated to defeat fellow Democrat Richard Katz was the lowest same-party smear campaign I have ever witnessed. The only odor is from him.

MICHAEL LORRAINE

Simi Valley

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I was deeply saddened to read The Times’ Oct. 15 editorial position regarding Zacarias. Rather than suggest Zacarias’ departure, the outrage should be directed toward the actions of some school board members. Their secrecy, manipulation and dictatorial actions are intolerable.

Moreover, Miller’s CEO appointment has taken emergency credentialing to a new level. Needless to say, Los Angeles will continue to be known for its racist practices as seen in the LAPD, entertainment industry and now LAUSD school board. Perhaps, it’s time for the Commission on Human Rights to step in.

LOUISA B. CAUCIA

Montrose

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Richard Lee Colvin’s Oct. 17 article, “How L.A. Unified Got Into This Fix,” is must reading for every school superintendent and school board member in the state. As a retired school superintendent and former board member of a community college district, I found Colvin’s reporting right on. It reveals the fundamental problems in not just L.A. Unified, but in every school district and community college in California.

RALPH R. VILLANI

Palm Springs

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Latino parents will refuse to send their children to school as a loyal show of support for Zacarias? I wonder if Zacarias is as committed to the children and families he serves as they are to him.

I suggest that the superintendent refuse to report to work until somebody else solves the problems he has been unable to handle.

MAURICIO GORMAZ

Northridge

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It seems the LAUSD is in the business of purchasing contaminated property to build new schools on. The Belmont complex is one example. Now, 40 acres in South Gate were purchased for $39 million (Oct. 15) for a new school. This property is also found to be contaminated. In addition, a nearby elementary school had to be closed due to the toxicity in the area.

Enough is enough! It’s time to stop all this unnecessary fiasco.

ARTHUR ONNA

Los Angeles