A Bad Fit for the LAUSD

The Los Angeles school board’s unanimous decision to name Roy Romer superintendent was ill-considered and seriously undermines confidence in the board’s ability to set a sure course for the public schools.

Given that interim Supt. Ramon C. Cortines had indicated he would not abandon his job until a new leader was in place, what was the board’s rush Tuesday to appoint the former Colorado governor and Democratic Party official? Was it because Romer was one of the few candidates who truly wanted the job? That’s like choosing a spouse based on which suitor is most eager. It doesn’t make the strongest basis for a long-term relationship.

This vital decision was made in haste, driven in part by a practical deadline--Cortines’ desire to move on--as well as the board’s desire to send a message of solidarity and decisiveness. That’s good image-building--but it missed the bigger target by a mile. The board’s selection of Romer gave short shrift to the basic and most crucial issue: Who’s the best person to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District?

In announcing the selection of Romer, who said Tuesday he will immediately resign his chairmanship of the Democratic National Convention, board President Genethia Hayes said Romer’s management abilities, political skills and union negotiation experience made him a strong choice to run L.A. Unified’s 790 schools.

But what’s needed in the job of LAUSD superintendent is far more than the ability to articulate problems, set goals and schmooze. Former Supt. Ruben Zacarias, for example, spoke with passion about the educational shortcomings of the district and set clear goals. He just couldn’t force the internal change required to meet those goals. As superintendent, the 71-year-old Zacarias was a well-intentioned, kindhearted but limited bureaucrat.

In walked Cortines, 67, who swept into the cobwebbed minds of the LAUSD bureaucracy like a spring wind. He’s been putting in 14-hour days for the last five months to force change from the top down. By making reading instruction the No. 1 priority, demanding much more from teachers and staff, pushing through a major reorganization of the district and trimming bureaucratic bloat, he’s already accomplished more fundamental change in his short time than the last two superintendents.

So why did this school board--swept into office on a wave of voter support for dramatic education reform--in effect fire Zacarias to ultimately replace him with a 71-year-old, well-intentioned but limited Democratic Party boss? The sense of that must be evident to the board. Unfortunately it’s going to be a mystery to many Angelenos.

Romer says the right things. He’s a seasoned politician and public official. But there’s precious little to suggest that he’s got the educational wisdom and the political guts it will take to reshape the mammoth LAUSD.

This district has had plenty of feel-good superintendents; that’s one of the reasons it had to go begging for candidates for one of the most important education jobs in the United States.

When we raised questions about Zacarias’ ability to do that job, we never wished more fervently to be wrong, but we were not. Now we’re wishing fervently again. There’s no pleasure in being right when what is at stake is the future of public education in Los Angeles.