Selecting a New School Superintendent

* Re “Students Deserve the Best Leader,” editorial, April 22:

Thank you for your voice of sanity regarding students deserving better in the search for a new superintendent of Los Angeles schools. Supt. Sid Thompson did the honorable and responsible thing by letting his intentions be known early, so the board would have plenty of time to also do the right thing. However, the board has been irresponsible to its constituents by scurrying about to quickly appoint someone to the position (what’s the rush?) and/or to buy out Thompson’s contract (a waste of our tax dollars)!

Let’s do our best to hire the best person for the job. If we need to make a concerted effort to make sure that person is Latino, let’s look at the entire pool of possible applicants, not just the closest swimmer.

SETH E. CUTLER

Los Angeles

* Re “Pressure Grows to Name Latino as L.A. Schools Chief,” April 23: Threatening to recall school board member David Tokofsky because he didn’t jump on the [Deputy Supt. Ruben] Zacarias-for-superintendent bandwagon quickly enough is unwise and premature. The 5th District does not need a divisive recall election at this time. Let the community decide when Tokofsky’s term is up in three years whether or not he has served his district and the Los Angeles Unified School District effectively.

CLAIRE T. GOLDBLUM

Studio City

* School reform at the top level is an important step in improving student learning within the LAUSD. Why think in terms of one superintendent? Let’s select four intelligent heads. Their salaries will be paid from the money saved removing all the sub-superinten- dents who really aren’t a productive part of the education of students.

I suggest: 1) A scientific head knowledgeable in research that deals with how people really learn, and what methods could lead students to productively use their valuable brainpower. Right now we just muddle along and don’t really have any idea how people’s brains work in the learning process.

2) A classroom teacher from the “trenches.” This person should be a practical expert dealing with actual students, and have insight about student behavior, learning patterns, personal problems and levels of receptivity of theoretical ideas concentrated into practical approaches on a daily basis. Right now, rules and procedures are often imposed on classrooms by people who haven’t a clue on what is really needed.

3) A financial, managerial expert from the business world. This person would bring some fiscal sanity to a money-eating monster.

4) A computer genius who could bring this school system into the last days of the 20th century and get us on the path into the 21st century where our students will spend their productive lives.

ULA PENDLETON

Los Angeles