LAUSD Board Meets Privately to Discuss Deasey
The Los Angeles Unified School District board met Tuesday afternoon to discuss the performance of Superintendent John Deasy.
The teacher’s union and some board members are unhappy with Deasy’s $1 billion plan to supply all students with an iPad or laptop. Teachers say higher pay, safer campuses and smaller classroom sizes should be a higher priority.
Deasy has also been criticized for the troubled launch of a new computerized student-information system, and for having extensive discussions with Apple and education publisher Pearson two years before the bidding process ended.
“It’s his way or the highway. That’s not how you work with people; whether it be people on the board or the way he deals with the teacher’s union or the way he deals with parents,” said Carl Peterson, a father of five.
Two local businesses and civic leaders who support Deasy sent in letters to remind board members of his successes. The letters pointed out how Deasy has not only increased graduation and attendance rates during his career, but also the number of the African-American and Latino students taking Advanced Placement courses.
His supporters believe that the meeting should be held in public, and that board members should instead focus on all of the positive change he’s created thus far.
Deasy’s contract lasts through 2016, but the LAUSD board can potentially let him go at any time.
