Patience in the Face of Pressure

David Tokofsky, a member of the board of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is exactly right in wanting a national search before casting his vote for the next school superintendent. And Latino activists are wrong to threaten him with a recall effort if he does not immediately throw his weight behind LAUSD Deputy Supt. Ruben Zacarias. Here’s why.

* Despite various breakup bids, internal strife and a lack of public confidence in the district, national experts say there will be ample interest from strong candidates in taking on the manifest challenges of running the LAUSD. As one put it Tuesday, “There are always willing victims” regardless of the odds of success.

* Such a search figures to attract a broad spectrum of candidates, perhaps from some of the seven major city school districts around the nation already headed by Latinos, and from states such as Texas, Florida, Illinois, Arizona, New York and New Jersey, where Latinos hold high elected and appointed educational posts.

* It’s also an opportune time for a search, with only a few smaller eastern cities currently looking for new superintendents. None are financially competitive with Los Angeles.

* And casting a broad net hardly erases Zacarias from consideration. His supporters should demonstrate more faith that competition would not hurt his chances.