Thompson Appointed to Helm of L.A. Schools : Education: Board names him interim superintendent while it searches for a permanent successor to Anton.

Pledging their support to a new schools chief, the Los Angeles Board of Education appointed Deputy Supt. Sid Thompson to the district’s top position Monday, making him the first African-American to head the mammoth system.

The board voted 5 to 2 to name Thompson, 61, interim superintendent, filling the vacancy left by the sudden resignation of Bill Anton, who stepped down last Wednesday. The two dissenting votes were cast by Leticia Quezada and Julie Korenstein, who supported another candidate, Deputy Supt. Ruben Zacarias.

“In my opinion the two deputy superintendents were equally qualified,” board President Quezada said Monday. But “I have no problem with Sid, and I know he’ll do a good job.”

Board members said Thompson was chosen because of his experience running the district on a daily basis, often filling in as superintendent when Anton was absent. Thompson’s career in the district spans 36 years. He began as a junior high math teacher and rose steadily through the ranks, becoming a deputy superintendent in 1986. He was a finalist for the superintendency in 1987.

Zacarias, who oversaw community relations, on Monday was named deputy superintendent of operations and instruction, taking over the responsibilities Thompson had.

The board will begin a search, possibly nationwide, for a permanent superintendent and is expected to make a selection by next summer.

The oft-delayed decision on the interim superintendent came in the wake of an intense lobbying effort by a coalition of Latino activists and politicians who argued that Zacarias, 63, a Latino, was best qualified to serve a district in which Latino students are the majority.

But Monday afternoon, both Thompson and Zacarias said those differences should be put aside for the sake of all the district’s 641,000 students, a sentiment echoed by board members and leaders of the Latino coalition.

“We agreed that no matter how this worked out, we’d support (each) other,” Thompson said of the relationship between himself and Zacarias. “Now that the team is established, we ask that we all come together.”

Zacarias added, “Now that the board has made a decision, I want to make it clear I stand solidly with Sid Thompson. . . . We face the most awesome crisis in the history of this school district and for the sake of these children, we must pull together.”

Anton, who was the first member of a minority to lead the district, stunned officials when he announced Sept. 22 that he would resign his position nine months early. He lashed out at the board for bending to pressure from the teachers union and interfering with administrative matters.

The board delayed its decision on his successor for nearly two weeks in part because of a lingering budget crisis but also to consider how to address ethnic tensions that had surfaced during the selection process.

Thompson--who will serve in the interim position until June 30--is assuming the stewardship of a school system still reeling from deep budget cuts that have slashed jobs, eliminated offices and forced officials to propose drastic employee pay cuts.

The pay reductions, which are still being negotiated with employee bargaining groups, will affect Thompson and Zacarias. In the wake of an 11.5% pay cut for top administrators, Thompson will earn $141,271--less than he earned as deputy superintendent three years ago, a district spokeswoman said. Zacarias, who currently earns $106,154, will earn $125,386 in his new job.

Thompson said the most immediate task is to complete contract negotiations with the district’s employees and mend relationships strained by the specter of salary reductions.

“I stand ready to work with all the union heads, and see if we can come to some mutual understanding,” said Thompson.

Helen Bernstein, president of United Teachers-Los Angeles, said she hopes he and union representatives can reach a settlement to avert a possible strike.

“We certainly hope he can take this opportunity, which appeared to be a negative situation when (Anton) left, and turn it into a positive one, which I think he’s capable of doing,” Bernstein said. “He knows the district well. He knows us. It’s just a matter of everybody laying their ego aside, being prudent, and looking for a solution.”

The UTLA launched an aggressive campaign to fight pay reductions that, as currently proposed, would set teachers salaries 12% below what they were two years ago. District and union representatives are continuing negotiations this week.

Under the proposed pay cut plan, workers making less than $28,000 a year are asked to take reductions of up to 6.5% this year. Those making from $28,000 to $90,000--which includes teachers and most administrators--would have their pay cut 9%. Those making more than $90,000 a year would take an 11.5% cut. Those reductions would come on top of the 3% cut ordered last year.

Profile: Sid Thompson

Sid Thompson’s appointment as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District caps a 36-year career in the nation’s second-largest school system. Here is a look at him:

Born: May 9, 1931.

Residence: Los Angeles.

Education: Bachelor of science degree in nautical science, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 1952. Masters degree in school administration from California State University, 1960. Also has general secondary teaching credential and general administrative credential.

Career highlights: Math teacher, Pacoima Junior High School, 1956-65; assistant principal, Maclay Junior High, 1965-69; principal, Markham Junior High, 1969-71; principal, Crenshaw High, 1971-76; deputy area administrator, 1976-78; administrative consultant in Office of Associate Superintendent for Business and Personnel, 1978-81; area assistant superintendent, 1981-82; associate superintendent, school operations, 1982-86; deputy superintendent, school operations, 1986-92.

New salary: $141,271.

Personal: Married to Julietta Narvaez Thompson, a Los Angeles school principal. They have seven children.