Vote Delayed on Restructuring Schools

Los Angeles Board of Education members complained Monday that they have not been given enough information to make sound decisions about the district’s massive restructuring plan and postponed a final vote on the issue until May 2.

The plan by Supt. Sid Thompson calls for the giant district to be transformed from a centrally operated bureaucracy into self-governing clusters of high schools and their feeder campuses.

But several board members, who were slated to discuss specific cluster configurations Monday, said they do not have a big picture understanding on how the plan would unfold--a concern that is also stirring confusion among many parents and schools staff.

“There are so many questions and we are getting piecemeal answers,” said school board President Leticia Quezada. “In terms of reaching conclusions on the overall issues, we don’t have enough information.”

School board members ordered Thompson to draft a detailed report clearly describing the purpose and role of the cluster configurations and a new parent services unit that will be formed. Thompson was also told to figure out how much money it would cost to launch the plan.

A full report will be presented to the board on April 18. Final decisions on the restructuring will be made on May 2.