With a reorganization and a leadership change, this may be your last chance. Ramon C. Cortines, the tough and respected interim superintendent, and Howard Miller, the astute chief operating officer, leave officially on Friday. On July 1 the new schools chief, Roy Romer, takes over just as a major reorganization takes effect. The decentralization is intended to transform a school system known for broad academic failure. Some excellent schools do exist, but they are no longer enough to prop up the ailing district.
Decentralization is the reform upon which most hopes hang.
Shifting greater authority to clusters of schools is not a new concept in the 712,000-student school system. Sacramento is watching, and few there are fans of what passes for public education in Los Angeles. Gov. Gray Davis and the Legislature are holding students, teachers and school districts to more rigorous standards. They will be measured by Stanford 9 test scores due out in mid-July. Another round of failure or a barely noticeable up-tick in reading and math scores surely will lead to stronger state oversight and more strings on state money.