Debate Over School Chief’s Job Triggers Divisions

The debate over whether to extend the contract of Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Reuben Zacarias another year has triggered an all-out effort by influential Latino political figures to protect his job.

The school board Tuesday reportedly gave Zacarias a lukewarm performance evaluation. Although that report remains confidential, some board members characterized his overall performance as deserving a grade of C or C-.

But the superintendent’s supporters on the board, including some who were defeated for reelection, proposed extending his three-year contract by a year before the newly elected board members take their seats in July.

That move was interpreted by some as a hasty attempt to prevent the newcomers from having an opportunity to decide Zacarias’ future for themselves.

The new members, whose campaigns were heavily financed by Mayor Richard Riordan, are widely believed to be critical of Zacarias--and possibly plotting to have him replaced.

Riordan was unavailable for comment, but a spokeswoman vehemently denied suggestions that a plot is afoot. Nonetheless, these perceptions have defined the battle lines for some Latino lawmakers and community leaders.

The issue, which has divided the board, has now spilled beyond it. Latino officials, led by state Sen. Richard Polanco (D-Los Angeles), predict public protests against the mayor and recall efforts against board members who act against the superintendent.

In an interview, Polanco warned that any move by the new majority of Riordan-backed board members to curtail his ability to serve out his full term would be met by “massive demonstrations in support of Zacarias.”

“We took the mayor at his word when he argued that he wanted to change the composition of the board because Zacarias could not do his job,” Polanco said. “He’s going to have trouble with me and other leaders of the community if it turns out that his real agenda was to get rid of Ruben.

“People will come to this man’s defense from all walks of life because they will see this for what it is, a power grab,” he said. “We won’t stand for it. Enough!”

Xavier Flores, president of the San Fernando Valley Mexican-American Political Assn., said: “We’re going to do whatever we have to for Ruben Zacarias. This is not something we are going to play around with.

“If the mayor is thinking about going after Ruben, he’s going to run into more resistance than he ever imagined,” he said. “And if board member David Tokofsky even considers supporting the mayor on this one, he will more than likely face a recall.”

Tokofsky, whose reelection bid was supported by Riordan, responded in an interview: “I think the board needs to put forward a public statement of its evaluation so that things do not deteriorate into issues of race and power. So far, however, no one has been assigned to do that.”

Riordan’s chief spokeswoman expressed amazement at Polanco’s suggestion that Riordan was spearheading a campaign to oust the superintendent. Deputy Mayor Noelia Rodriguez said Riordan values his relationship with Zacarias and that evaluating his performance is not the mayor’s job.

“We have no idea where he [Polanco] is coming from,” Rodriguez said.

The move to extend Zacarias’ contract may have dashed any hopes of a smooth transition of authority next month.

“It seems to me that the issue of extending Zacarias’ contract ought to wait for the new board,” said Harold Williams, resident emeritus of the J. Paul Getty Trust and president of a group of local business and civic leaders organized to improve governance of the beleaguered school district.

“For several reasons, the new board ought to have an opportunity to address that--and Zacarias would best be advised to have the commitment of the new board,” he said. “It seems dysfunctional for a lame duck board to take this action.”

Added Williams: “It’s within Zacarias’ power to tell the current board he’d rather wait for the new board.”

Zacarias declined to comment except to say that “it’s a personnel matter.”

Mike Roos, head of the nonprofit educational reform group LEARN, said the bid to extend Zacarias’ contract defied logic.

“Everybody is clenching their fists for the wrong reasons,” Roos said. “First of all, I don’t believe anyone wants to get rid of Zacarias. But even if they did, so what if this board extended his contract? In a district with a $7-billion budget, it doesn’t take much to buy out a $188,000 contract. That’s chump change.”

Board member George Kiriyama, who was defeated in the April 13 election, said Roos missed the point. Kiriyama, for one, gave Zacarias high marks in his latest evaluation.

“I think the guy has done a good job--let’s give him an extension,” said Kiriyama, who made the motion Tuesday to extend the superintendent’s contract. “All I’m saying is, I appreciate what he’s done.”

L.A. Unified General Counsel Richard K. Mason advised the board Tuesday that it could not take a vote without public notice before next week’s meeting.

Mark Slavkin, director of public engagement, advocacy and communications at LAAMP, another nonprofit educational reform group, suggested an “option” for restoring relations among the board’s lame ducks and newcomers.

“The board could pass a motion on the record saying, ‘We think the superintendent has done well and achieved a lot. Therefore, we recommend the new board act quickly to extend the superintendent’s contract,’ ” he said.

“By acting now, the current board is forcing people to posture and take positions,” he added. “It’s starting off on the wrong foot. It signals business as usual, which is not a good tone to set.”

Genethia Hayes, who defeated incumbent Barbara Boudreaux in a recent runoff election, agreed.

“People seem to think that we are puppets and the mayor is our master manipulator--but how do they know Zacarias does not have my support?” she asked. “I think it would be better if we were all in this conversation together. I want Zacarias to tell what he wants to do, and share our own expectations with him, then move forward as a team.”

“I totally disagree,” said Alan Clayton, director of equal employment opportunity for the Los Angeles County Chicano Employees Assn. “The current board should extend Ruben’s contact now because he’s been working hard to make sure we improve student achievement. I’m concerned about the millions of dollars the mayor pumped into the new board members’ campaigns.”