New Schools Chief Lists Goals for Year

Incoming schools Supt. Ruben Zacarias released a 21-point list of goals and objectives Wednesday for the coming year that is long on generalities and short on tangible measures of success.

From his vow to improve the achievement of students in the Los Angeles Unified School District to his suggestion that LEARN school reforms can be furthered by training staff and parents districtwide in reform efforts, the two-page document contains no references to numbers or percentage gains.

But Zacarias, who is to take over the district’s top job Tuesday from Supt. Sid Thompson, insisted at a news conference that he would not shy away from solid goals but did not want to tie unrealistic benchmarks to his contract.

Over five years, Zacarias said he hopes to bring all students up to the state and national average on standardized tests. Setting gradual goals for the interim years would be “arbitrary” at this point, he said. “That’s something we’re going to have to work out as time goes on.”

The two-page document approved by the school board late Tuesday is a far cry from recommendations of the executive search firm that Zacarias’ contract tie specific goals to his salary or bonuses. That possibility was not favored by a majority of the board or, sources say, by Zacarias--although publicly he said he would not oppose such requirements.

“This is leading with your heart and not anything observable and accountable,” said David Tokofsky, the only board member who had championed an incentive approach.

None of Zacarias’ goals go beyond Thompson’s Call to Action, an improvement road map that was his 1995 answer to school board calls for accountability. Zacarias has consistently said he intends to follow that plan, which does include some specific statistical goals, rather than chart a new course for the district.

However, in numerous areas, Zacarias’ five-year goals would delay Call to Action deadlines. Zacarias’ hope of reaching the national test average within five years--by 2002--was to be reached in 2000 under the Call to Action.

Furthermore, while the district has met a number of the Thompson’s goals, it has fallen short in several areas. Test scores have dropped overall, for instance, and only 28 LEARN schools were added this year, although the document called for 100 more.

In his 21 goals, Zacarias reiterated his campaign pledge to hire a business czar to take over the business functions of the district. He said he had hoped to have that person on board from the beginning to help in the transition, but the post was only advertised nationally beginning last week.

The job, listed in the Wall Street Journal and The Times, promises a salary of $146,000 plus car and benefits to “an accomplished business executive,” preferably with an MBA, ready to work in “a dynamic, diverse and changing environment.” Zacarias said the salary will come from the district’s general fund, although he hopes to save money elsewhere by not replacing retiring or departing employees.