LAUSD PRESIDENT REFUSES TO GIVE CONFIDENTIAL DETAILS MAYOR ASKS FOR INFORMATION ON SUPERINTENDENT PROSPECTS.Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN Staff Writer School board President Marlene Canter sent a letter Friday to Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. , refusing his request for confidential information Noun 1. confidential information - an indication of potential opportunity; "he got a tip on the stock market"; "a good lead for a job" steer, tip, wind, hint, lead about candidates vying to become superintendent of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. Unified. Canter said while she was open to Villaraigosa playing some type of role in selecting a successor to retiring Superintendent Roy Romer Roy R. Romer (born October 31, 1928 in Garden City, Kansas, United States) was the 39th governor of Colorado and served as the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District from 2001 to 2006. , she would not reveal the identities of candidates to him or to the mayor of any other city that the LAUSD LAUSD Los Angeles Unified School District (Los Angeles, CA) serves. ``I understand and know he wants to be involved. But now the main job of the board is to protect the process. It's been held confidential, and he knows as much as we know,'' Canter said. ``When you get to this type of search with national leaders who don't want to reveal who they are, I just don't understand how anyone can think once you give out the information to a large number of people it will remain confidential. ``I would like there to be a way for him to be involved; I just don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what that is.'' Villaraigosa's office responded that he was ``deeply disappointed'' by Canter's refusal. ``This letter is a bald rejection of Mayor Villaraigosa's call for partnership in choosing the next superintendent. It further isolates the board of education from the broad and historic coalition of parents, teachers, business and community leaders who have come together to bring fundamental change to our schools,'' said Janelle Erickson, the mayor's spokeswoman. ``It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for the board to end their obstructionist ob·struc·tion·ist n. One who systematically blocks or interrupts a process, especially one who attempts to impede passage of legislation by the use of delaying tactics, such as a filibuster. tactics, recognize the Legislature's mandate and open the process. The mayor made a specific and reasonable proposal for inclusion in the spirit of the new law. The board responded with a disappointing and weakly worded denial.'' A seven-member search committee composed of community leaders is interviewing candidates and will whittle down Verb 1. whittle down - cut away in small pieces wear away, whittle away damage - inflict damage upon; "The snow damaged the roof"; "She damaged the car when she hit the tree" the list to three to five people ``in the near future,'' Canter said. Canter's letter was in response to one that Villaraigosa sent Monday, the day Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 1381, the education-reform law. In it, he asked for ``modified'' use of his new powers until the law takes effect Jan.1. The law gives the mayor a significant role in the district's operation and in overseeing three clusters of low-performing schools, and it shifts a large amount of authority from the school board to the superintendent. Canter said she had made every effort to involve Villaraigosa in the selection process and closed the letter restating her commitment to continue involving him. ``Our students will be best served by choosing a superintendent that both the board and our mayor can unite behind,'' Canter wrote. ``I again thank you for your interest in the process, and we will be in touch shortly. naush.boghossian(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3722 |
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