Local News in Brief : College Interim Chancellor

Thomas M. Fallo will remain at the helm of the nine-campus Los Angeles Community College system until a new chancellor is chosen and takes office in July.

Fallo, vice chancellor for business services since 1981, has been acting chancellor since the forced departure two months ago of Leslie Koltai. On Wednesday, the college district’s Board of Trustees interviewed several candidates to lead the system for the next six months but then decided unanimously to stick with Fallo and to change his title to interim chancellor, according to board President Hal Garvin.

“We feel Tom has done an outstanding job and that he was the best person,” Garvin said.

Last week the trustees hired an executive search firm to begin looking for a permanent replacement for Koltai, who was chancellor for 15 years until disputes with the board led to his resignation. Under his new contract, Fallo cannot be one of the candidates for the permanent post, Garvin said.