New Schools Chief Plans to Take on Teachers Union

John Deasy, the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, received both cheers and boos at this week's meeting of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association while describing his ambitious goals for the district.

Speaking to residents gathered for the meeting, the tough-talking Boston transplant outlined his previous job experience, then launched into his plan to revamp the city’s school system.

Three of his goals, Deasy said, are to increase the high school graduation rate from 55 percent to 70 percent in four years; double the number of middle and high school students who test as “proficient” in math; and triple the percentage of students who pass courses to attend four-year universities.

Deasy also said he is not afraid to lock horns with the teachers union.

He told those gathered that he wants them to hold him accountable for his performance and he plans to do the same thing to teachers.

One of the things he said he wants to tackle is tenure. Deasy said he wants to raise the bar for who can get tenure so it is more meaningful and not just based on years of service. And he doesn’t think that salary should be based on a step system, but on qualities such as which area a teacher works in.

For instance, he said, if a kindergarten teacher works in a poor neighborhood with a high drop-out rate and manages to teach all 30 students to read, she ought to be making $120,000 a year. If a fourth-grade teacher with 30 students has not taught her students to read by the end of the year then maybe the school district needs to consider firing that person, he said.

“I was impressed by his focus and determination,” said Ellen Vokovich, a board member of the Sherman Oaks Homeowners Association.

Bob Anderson, another SOHA board member, said he did not disagree with what Deasy was saying, but the tasks he outlined will be difficult to accomplish.