Excused Absence for Hillary Visit

Re: “School Chiefs Absent for Miss Clinton’s Class,” Feb. 16.

I was amused by your recent tidbit about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s visit to the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center. Since I was not contacted by your reporters regarding my inability to attend that event, I would like to clarify the issue.

The White House did not contact me or my colleagues to notify us of the visit, nor invite us. I learned about the event the day before Clinton arrived, as I happened to be visiting the Fenton Charter School when their principal received a phone call from Yvonne Chan, the Vaughn principal. The Board of Education had previously scheduled an important daylong meeting on the day of Mrs. Clinton’s visit. Rather than cancel the meeting, it was agreed that board member David Tokofsky should attend and represent the board. I also asked my deputy to attend and bring greetings on my behalf.

I am very proud of the Vaughn Next Century Learning Center and delighted Mrs. Clinton chose to visit and draw attention to this innovative charter school.

MARK SLAVKIN

Slavkin is president of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Board of Education