BREWER VOWS ACTION TO AID L.A. STUDENTS FINANCIAL SUPPORT SOUGHT FROM VALLEY BUSINESSES.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN Staff Writer

Los Angeles schools Superintendent David Brewer III asked San Fernando Valley business leaders Thursday for their cooperation and financial support to help make L.A. Unified a first-class district.

At the Valley Industry and Commerce Association's 57th annual meeting, Brewer said the Valley's schools -- some of the highest-performing in the district and in the nation -- could be used as models elsewhere in Los Angeles.

But the recently appointed schools chief warned business leaders against simply bringing more ``good ideas'' to the table. What is needed, he said, is action.

One of his first priorities as head of the 720,000-student district is to develop a strategy of action for the LAUSD.

``Ideas have been flowing for decades,'' Brewer told the crowd assembled for lunch at the Universal Hilton. ``The problem in public education is not ideas. The problem in public education is execution.

``We're going to build on the foundation that's already there in order to scale fast.''

Brewer said he will work to build formal ties between the business community and the approximately 20 high schools in the Valley through small learning communities -- intimate learning environments that specialize in certain fields.

VICA President Brendan Huffman said he particularly likes Brewer's plans to make education relevant for students.

Brewer said he'd like to see students graduate not only with degrees but with certificates in trades, making them ready for the work force.

``Especially in the Valley, which has a dynamic economy, educators have a lot of opportunities to make kids feel excited about their futures,'' Huffman said.

But past VICA Chairman Marvin Selter said while Brewer's presentation had a lot of ``meat,'' what the business community needs is implementation.

``I've heard this before. It's not the first time. The business community is ready, willing and anxious to assist him in what he wants,'' said Selter, president and CEO of CMS Inc., a management consulting and wealth-management company in Sherman Oaks and Calabasas.

``If we don't develop our educational ability and technical ability where students become college graduates and we (don't) stop the dropout problem, basically, we have no work force in this city.

``I believe Los Angeles is the jewel of the world. If we do the right things, educate our students, teach people to live together in harmony, we can do it.''

Brewer, a former Navy admiral, addressed criticism that the LAUSD is a behemoth, a beast that cannot be tamed, a bureaucracy that's so big it takes too long for change to take place.

``I know how to ride a bull. I'm going to bring out a whip,'' he said, noting that he helped make huge budget cuts during his time in the Navy.

``We're going to tame the beast, and the only way to do that is to change the culture.''

naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com

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