Many in Valley Back No. 2 for No. 1 Job

Despite their protests that a Latino need not necessarily be the next superintendent of Los Angeles Unified schools, some San Fernando Valley residents are nonetheless rooting for Deputy Supt. Ruben Zacarias, the candidate of choice among Latino activists over the hill.

It’s not Zacarias’ status as the district’s highest ranking Latino that makes him attractive here. It’s that he’s a resident of Chatsworth, someone viewed as a potential advocate in the Valley’s fight for equal recognition.

“We’ve always had people from over the hill calling the shots and our needs need to be represented here,” said Nereida Johnson of Mission Hills. “We don’t always get our voices heard.”

Yet Zacarias’ Valley connection has not been enough so far to persuade even those school board members representing the Valley to immediately name him as successor to outgoing Supt. Sid Thompson. Four of the board’s seven members represent parts of the Valley, and all four--David Tokofsky, Julie Korenstein, Mark Slavkin and Jeff Horton--agree the board should take its time before choosing a new superintendent.

Ever since Thompson announced last month that he will resign next year, activists from East L.A. have been pushing for the school board to appoint a Latino to head the predominantly Latino school district of more than 600,000 students.

Zacarias, 67, is their man, not only because he is the district’s second in command but because he has 30 years of experience, starting with his work as an elementary school teacher in Boyle Heights. Supporters urged the board to name him superintendent immediately, but a majority decided instead to consider all options, including looking outside the district for candidates.

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That move angered several activists who are now pursuing a recall of Tokofsky, whom they accuse of betraying his heavily Latino district straddling the Valley and East L.A.

Tokofsky said last week that he felt like a scapegoat for people’s frustrations, but would not back down from pursuing a complete search for a successor to Thompson.

“I think [Zacarias] is good, but I don’t think you can stop there without going through the process,” Tokofsky said.

Horton said a broad search is necessary to give everyone a fair chance. “I don’t rule out Ruben as meeting qualifications, but we need to be open to all options and all candidates,” he said.

Zacarias himself said he agrees with the board’s decision to search beyond the LAUSD’s central office, adding: “I have no problem with matching my qualifications and experience with any potential candidate.”

So far, Valley residents have remained outside the public fight, but board members say they are receiving plenty of phone calls expressing a variety of opinions. Many callers, regardless of their ethnicity, seem to agree with the board’s cautious approach.

“I don’t want them to rush to just name a name because they’re the next person on the list,” said Diana Dixon-Davis, an education activist from Chatsworth who supports plans to break up the school district.

Others seem to regard geography as a major concern.

Johnson said she considers the fact that Zacarias lives in the Valley a good sign but not his only qualification.

“I think the issue is finding somebody who cares about our kids, knows policy, knows what’s going on with the district. And Dr. Zacarias knows this,” Johnson said. “Plus he happens to be Latino and he’s extremely qualified.”

Korenstein also called for a district leader with greater recognition of the Valley. “Any superintendent will need to understand the needs of the San Fernando Valley and the frustrations of the Valley. It’s going to take a very special person. . . . The Valley is as diverse as any other part of the city.”

However, Korenstein added, “there are a number of ways one can understand the Valley.”

For Roberto Flores of Sylmar, race and ethnicity are the main issues. With a district whose students are 67% Latino, Flores said, the next superintendent has to understand that culture.

“It’s not just a matter of language,” said Flores, a member of the district’s bilingual advisory board. “We need to find a person who can identify with the majority and that’s people from Mexican descent.”

But Dixon-Davis countered that if the true, underserved majority was really considered for representation, the next superintendent would be a woman. She suggested Assistant Supt. Sara “Sally” Coughlin, a frequently mentioned name among school district volunteers.

“We’ve never had a woman superintendent, and if you’re looking at who’s been left out the longest, it’s the women,” she said.

But more important than filling the proper gender, racial or ethnic slot is simply finding the right person to tackle the district’s mounting problems, from poor reading scores and a high dropout rate to bilingual education, said Tony Alcala of the Northeast Valley Multi-Ethnic Coalition.

Alcala said the board needs to hire a person “who’s very strong on school reform and who is going to understand the district, and who really has the touch with the kids.”

“The board needs to be reminded that we’re in the business of children, not for other things. Not for politics. Not for business deals. But what’s best for all our children,” Alcala said.

Ellen Learned, a bilingual teacher at Gridley Street Elementary School in San Fernando, said she does not understand why board members should search outside the school district when the next superintendent could be right under their noses.

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“We have a lot of talented administrators already. It just seems like a waste of money for such an extensive search,” Learned said. “From what I’ve heard, [Zacarias] sounds like he’s a real qualified guy for the job.”

But Robin Sterk of Chatsworth is less optimistic that any superintendent, no matter how talented, can fix the district’s vast problems.

“I think the district is so big and in such bad shape, how can one person improve it?” said Sterk, who is co-president of the Parent Teacher Student Assn. chapter at Lawrence Middle School in Chatsworth and supports a district breakup.

“Anyone who steps into this job is going to have major amounts of pressure and expectations thrust on them.”