LAUSD Board Discusses Superintendent John Deasy's Upcoming Performance Review
SILVER LAKE (CBSLA.com) — Educators at every LAUSD school wore red Tuesday as a sign of unity ahead an October job performance review of controversial Superintendent John Deasy.
Deasy, who has been superintendent since 2011, has been under fire from the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), which is in the middle of contract negotiations.
Teachers are calling for smaller classroom sizes, fully staffed schools, safe campuses and increased pay.
"We believe that John Deasy is responsible for causing serious problems in this district," UTLA President Alex Caputo-Pearl said.
Deasy has also clashed in recent months with LAUSD board members and activists over his $1 billion technology program that aims to provide all students with an iPad or lap top.
Additionally, Deasy has been criticized for the troubled roll out of the computerized student tracking system, MISIS, which launched last month.
The LAUSD board Tuesday held a 4 p.m. closed door session to talk about Deasy's upcoming review, scheduled to take place on Oct. 21.
His contract runs through 2016, however, he can be removed from his post at any time.
The continuing pressure on Deasy has prompted two local groups of non-profits and business leaders to mail letters to the board on his behalf.
The letters urge members to focus on improvement during Deasy's tenure, such as increased graduation and attendance rates and reduced suspensions.
"The Board's history of cycling through superintendents creates instability, which puts the public's faith in our public school system in jeopardy," the Civic Alliance said in a letter. "If this board truly prioritizes children, it will hold Superintendent Deasy in place through an orderly process of transparent performance review."
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