Bill Anton and His Successor

The sudden resignation of Anton was as much a surprise to UTLA as it was to others. His more than 40 years of service to LAUSD and its students is to be commended and recognized. Disagreements between the superintendent and UTLA in no way detract from his dedication to our public school system.

UTLA reached out to Anton to work together as partners in facing the myriad problems and deficiencies within LAUSD. In the beginning, we had hope. Then, the state’s financial house of cards came crashing down and budgets for all social services, public education among them, were lined up for the budget ax. As soon as that happened, the superintendent and those at 450 N. Grand closed ranks and did all they could to preserve the administrative structure and cut from the classroom first instead of last. That’s where UTLA and Anton parted company.

Additionally, the Los Angeles Times continually refers to the “generous raises” only in reference to teachers. Although it was only teachers and support services personnel from the UTLA bargaining unit on those picket lines in 1989, all LAUSD employees received their “me too” raises. When you write about raises, please include all LAUSD bargaining units and management, not just UTLA.

As it turned out, Anton’s greatest asset, his longevity and knowledge of the LAUSD and its bureaucracy, became his worst liability as he perpetuated business-as-usual, status-quo solutions to unprecedented cutbacks from Sacramento.

HELEN BERNSTEIN, President, UTLA