Cortines gets nod as schools' No. 2

By Howard Blume

April 9, 2008 12 AM PT

The school board Tuesday approved the hiring of Ramon C. Cortines as senior deputy superintendent -- the No. 2 position -- of the Los Angeles Unified School District. The veteran educator will leave his post as a Los Angeles deputy mayor to head day-to-day operations at the nation’s second-largest school system.

Cortines, 75, formerly headed the school districts in New York City, San Francisco and San Jose. For six months in 2000, he served as interim chief of L.A. Unified.

Cortines agreed to an at-will contract, meaning he will serve at the pleasure of Supt. David L. Brewer.

-- Howard Blume

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California Education

Howard Blume

Howard Blume covers education for the Los Angeles Times. He’s won the top investigative reporting prize from the L.A. Press Club and print Journalist of the Year from the L.A. Society of Professional Journalists chapter. He recently retired “Deadline L.A.,” a past honoree for best public-affairs radio program, which he produced and co-hosted on KPFK-FM (90.7) for 15 years. He teaches tap dancing and has two superior daughters.

Cortines gets nod as schools’ No. 2

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