Brewer's job may be on the line today

Key civic leaders have lost confidence in L.A. School Supt. David L. Brewer and are quietly pressing for him to leave his $300,000-a-year position as head of the nation's second-largest school system, The Times has learned.

The school board is expected to discuss buying out Brewer's contract in a private meeting today, according to sources close to the district who are not authorized to speak about closed sessions.

Months ago, Brewer handed over day-to-day operations of the district as well as long-term planning to a deputy, Ramon C. Cortines. Brewer has remained the public face of the district and acts as its most visible lobbyist.

Those who are said to favor Brewer's departure include Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, former Mayor Richard Riordan and billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad. Each declined to answer questions about Brewer's performance, but political allies confirmed their positions. Riordan and Broad are active and influential in local reform efforts, especially in promoting charters, public schools that are overseen but not controlled by L.A. Unified.

Read the rest of the story here.

--Howard Blume and Jason Song

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Mr. Unite Us]

L.A Times refuses to mention the Civic Leaders that Brewer to stay.
National Urban League President Blair Taylor for one

[Sarah]

One of your commentators obviously needs to go back to school to learn how to construct a sentence and also learn how to spell (5). Tell me who could turn around a school district with an out of control teacher's union which continues to protect ineffective teachers and a school board in which its members are not educators, except for Lamotte and Vladavick(sp)? Well continue your search. Maybe you may find Jesus, Buddha or Muhammad. Just keep your special interest in mind for charters and magnets and let the children of LA continue to suffer while all of the politicos continue to pontificate as to how to run the district. My bet is that the loudest voices attended private elite schools. Interesting, they have so many opinions on how to run a district for public kids when they went to private schools or at best segregated schools. I know that Broad and Riorden did not attend a school with many black and brown children because of their age. Now the mayor, perhaps did, but again LAUSD did not lay the foundation for him to pass the CA bar, but you elected him to be your mayor to run your schools. At least Brewer has completed college with honors and has a master's degree with honors and a distinguished military career and a proven career of leadership, far more than the mayor.

[Sarah (continued)]

I must give the mayor credit, he is turning down an opportunity to be with the Obama team- perhaps too intellectual for a failure of the bar or moral problems-- could not be vetted? Ten years from now you still will have the same results-nothing or worse. Sara

[Mary Smith]

Obviously the mayors goons forgot about Jimmy Hahn? If the mayor thought he had a chance of running for Governor--think twice. You have lost the support of the African American community not that we ever trusted you and your political career will end like your boy Nunez.

Karma is a mother ask the opponents of Prop 8. The African American community will be the mayors worse nightmare.

Gavin Newsome 2010

[Herb]

No one mentions the 800 pound gorrilla in the room, which is that in our quest for cheap labor, we chose to import a group of people who lack an academic tradition. All large poor urban school systems are tying themselves into similar knots trying to transmit an academic education to a population that does not want it, does not see the value in it, and often can't understand the language it's taught in. That's why LAUSD has chewed and spat out supes at regular intervals. The case of Leanard Britten in the 80s has many parallels to the Brewer situation. He too was brought in from across the continent and touted as a savior, only to be booted because he could not alter the basic conditions. And he had had public education experience. We need to have a public, serious, frank discussion of the pros and cons of importing a large, poor, uneducable, prolific population just so we can buy cheap strawberries.

[BenjaminL]

As ever, the African-American political class will stop at nothing to defend mediocrity in the name of racialist solidarity (see also King/Drew, Marion Barry, Cynthia McKinney, Sharpe James, Willie Williams, Bernard Parks at LAPD).

To the self-justifying African-American elite, the color of one's skin, and the preservation of government jobs for mediocre African-American employees, is much more important than actual job performance.

[Tracie]

Can someone slap a muzzle on MONICA, she carries on
as if she's the Mafioso of the LAUSD.
Hey Villaraigosa were watching U!

[Vicente G. Martinez]

It is somewhat peculiar that every head of the LAUSD for the last ten years has been in a position to make a change, Then they are "Asked to leave" could this a sign of the weakneses of their selectors? or possibly the system that they are in charge of? Why is it that every time the results of their low standards gives them extaclty the fruits they (We) paid for, Is it time now to look at a higher lever of accountability? or is it more of the same as it has been for many years? I am not trilled to be in one of the many underpaid jobs with over the bar expectations and without many friends to cover your back if you dare to speak up against unfair and discriminatory treatment on the job, I have been there and I have seen it many times over, The less your "Guidance and assistance providing supervisors" get involved to help you when needed the better for them, It is widely known that It is a tabu to attack someone at their level and face retribution later when they are in a position to advance and then again, you are on your own, the only viable choices we are given are "Promote, Retire, or Take it like a man" which does not solve any problems as we know are there, Kudos to Mr. Cortines, I have faith in your abilities, I have met you only once and I will give my vote for you be the next Sup if that would make the diference

[ellen]

How convenient to blame the "teacher's union!" I am soooo sick of that! As an LAUSD teacher who just finished up my nightly three hours of school work when I get home just so I can make 2,000 dollars less next year and have worse benefits, I am sick of all of you who blame "the union." The union is teachers, hardworking teachers doing their best to instill a love of education into students whose parents often don't have high expectations for them.
Without a union we would be making 1/2 of what we are making and have even worse benefits than we are getting next year. Check out states without teacher's unions. The pay is horrible and teachers are treated very poorly.

I am sick of getting bashed when I put out at least 1,000 dollars a year on supplies for my clsasroom. Go away, please.

[Gene F]

Who are these morons that draw up such lucrative contracts? They really should be sought out and either fired or sued! I can't believe that the market for school administrators is so sparse that we need to entice the one or two out there with enormous gifts and perks such as paying the entire amount of the contract regardless of how you do the job.

This Brewster was a fine pick with all his 'concern' about education. Not too hard to put a price on his 'concern'...about a half mil. How he has the gall to ask for a payout, when, among other things, the school meal program to less fortunate children in LA may be cut.

A part time grade school teacher would be better vetted than this clown was-probably better eduated as well.

People have to be held accountable, especially in cases like this where taxpayers are stretched and children wanting.

Its deplorable and Brewster (and the Board) should be embarrassed.