Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) stakeholders stressed harmony and stabilization moving forward after Superintendent John Deasy resigned on Oct. 16 and former superintendent Ramon Cortines was appointed in his place.

(Ramon Cortines)

The 83-year-old Cortines previously led LAUSD from 2009 to 2011, and on an interim basis in 2000. He also has been superintendent of districts in Pasadena, San Francisco, San Jose, and New York.

“Ray Cortines is America’s superintendent,” LAUSD Board Member Steve Zimmer, 4th District, said on Wednesday. “He brings with him an expertise that is literally unparalleled.”

Deasy resigned amid tension with the LAUSD Board of Education and problems implementing the Common Core Technology Project and MiSiS student database, among other issues.

However, officials lauded Deasy’s resolve for results in the classroom during his three-plus years overseeing the district, despite severe economic hardships. Deasy has agreed to remain on special assignment with the district until the end of this year.

“Under his leadership, district graduation rates are up and achievement scores are higher, a legacy that he can be proud of bringing to the district,” Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement shortly after the resignation.

The appointment of Cortines does not include an interim tag, officials said.

“There is no timeframe in place to hire a new superintendent after Dr. Cortines,” said Tom Waldman, LAUSD executive director of board communication. “We’re approaching the one-fourth mark of the school year and he is very focused on the here and now and educating our kids.”

Zimmer also said there is not yet a defined time Cortines will serve as superintendent.

“In all probability, Superintendent Cortines will be running the district through at least the end of the academic year,” he added, noting that he was speaking for himself and not the board as a whole. “The ideal situation, if he were willing to, is that we would conclude the academic year. Then the bulk of the search and selection process would be done probably in a time between next July and next September, once the new school board is in place.”

Zimmer also expressed hope that Cortines would remain to help with the transition.

As far as Deasy’s achievements, Zimmer said although feathers were ruffled in some areas, there was still much to build on moving forward. He said it was important to keep working on the new evaluations process, School Climate Bill of Rights and the Equity Index that shifts funding distribution. He said all three were routed through and at least somewhat approved by the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA).

“These should not be areas of major conflict,” he added. “The question really, and where the conflict has been with John Deasy, is not about whether we will have change, it’s how that change will occur. Very clearly, it is a necessary period of stabilization that Ray will bring. He will set the table for collaborative implementation of these policies.”

UTLA officials said it was no secret the union clashed with Deasy, and that their stakeholders intend to work with the new superintendent to realize goals of its Schools LA Students Deserve campaign — such as smaller class sizes, a well-rounded curriculum, accountability that ensures equity and access for students and better pay to recruit and retain educators.

As for the permanent solution at superintendent, UTLA officials said they hoped for a long and thorough process, noting the last recruiting process was deeply flawed.

Zimmer said he would look in the short-term for Cortines to help with the serious issues surrounding implementation of the MiSiS system.

“I can’t tell you how important this is,” he said. “It is as if the circulatory system of the body is malfunctioning.”

But the district is not in cardiac arrest just yet, he added, noting help was on the way.

Other stakeholders said they are hoping for a positive transition and more harmony among district leadership.

“I think [Deasy] definitely wanted to see more accountability in the classroom, whether he went about it the right way, I’m not sure,” said Joyce Kleifield, executive director of The Harrison Trust at Los Angeles High School. “Things have to change inside the classroom — the way teachers teach. I think Deasy was trying to get there, but I’m not sure he approached it in the right way.”

Kleifield said she is looking for more continuity in the schools, noting Los Angeles High School has run through a number of principals in recent years.

“Every community and school community is a little bit different,” she added. “[I’d like to see them] having more faith in the individual schools and their leadership, not burning them with so many compliance issues, but allowing them to do what’s best for their kids.”

Zimmer echoed the sentiment, adding, “the most important conversation is about decentralization,” which he said suited Cortines’ temperament more than Deasy’s.

Officials said they have fielded questions about breaking the district up, especially when a major change like this takes place.

“Los Angeles Unified School District is just a monster of a district to manage, and I don’t know how any one person could do it with the demands on educators,” Kleifield said.

Zimmer doesn’t see the idea of splitting the district being broached any time soon.

“There is always talk about that but there is no way to do it equitably,” he said, noting a split would always be unfair to some schools, particularly poverty-stricken campuses.

LAUSD board members contend this is merely a hiccup in the process and not a step backwards.

“As we continue with our next LAUSD leader, Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines, we accept the challenge to make our district better than it was yesterday and I want to reassure our students, our families, our educators and our community that our district will continue uninterrupted,” LAUSD Board Member Monica Garcia, 2nd District, said in a statement.