District Administration - March 2009 - (Page 14)

Conversations Ramon Cortines Los Angeles’ New Reformer In January, ramon CortInes was appoInted by the board to take over as superintendent of the financially strapped and academically stubborn Los angeles unified school district. succeeding david Brewer, a retired navy admiral whose critics called an ineffective figurehead, the 76-year-old veteran administrator is receiving a positive response to his taking on the superintendency of the country’s second-largest school district. But the job will not be without formidable obstacles. He took some time to talk to da about the challenges facing the district and how he plans to move ahead. RC: Well, two things, but it’s really one. The focus has to return to the classroom. I think that teachers in this district have shown that they are responsible, and I want them respected and valued. Secondly, it has to be about leadership. I don’t think we’ve done a good job in choosing administrators and helping them understand what leadership really means. How severe is the financial crisis facing the district? Q: What is at the top of your agenda as superintendent of the country’s second-largest school district? five thousand personnel—both teachers and administrators—that are outside the classroom. I think that’s way too many. We’ll know more about the stimulus bill soon, but I don’t think we’ll see it until next fiscal year, which begins July 1. How will the stimulus package be helpful specifically? For the 2008-2009 year our budget deficit is $200 million. For 2009-2010 it will be between $500 and $600 million. I avoided midyear cuts because I thought it would destabilize the district. I’m attempting to present a plan that is not only more cost-effective but is more management-effective. We have declining enrollment and declining resources. But for the last five or six years, we have had an increase of staff. I am recommending the removal of hundreds of people at the central office, and I have requested a 50 percent cut to all local district offices. Could the economic stimulus package solve the problems? For example, the stimulus package has money for special education. Well, there is a major encroachment from special education on the general fund. So that will be helpful. One of the things that we also need to do is increase and enhance the participation in our early childhood programs. Or begin to look at Head Start. What would the stimulus package allow you to do? I think we have to use it judiciously. I think a lot of people are looking at it to solve all of their problems. It doesn’t mean that we still aren’t going to have to make very hard decisions. I think there needs to be a plan with the stimulus money, with benchmarks and evidence that we’re using it correctly. Many are saying that it can change the role of the federal government in education, no? No. Mainly because we’ve identified over 14 March 2009 I think it can. I hope it changes it right. I hope that there’s some accountability. We’re still in many areas at the bottom. District Administration http://www.elitescreens.com http://www.elitescreens.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of District Administration - March 2009

District Administration - March 2009
Contents
Editor’s Letter
News Update
Health & Fitness
Online Learning
Conversations
District Profile
Administrator Profile
The College Promise
Do Economic Rewards Work?
The SIFication of America
Disciplining Students with Disabilities
How Well Does This Web Site Work?
Tech Disruptions
New Products
Product Focus
New Books
Research Center

District Administration - March 2009