New Head of L.A. Schools Faces Ire of Latinos, Blacks

As Leonard M. Britton sees it, the three biggest challenges facing him as the Los Angeles Unified School District’s new superintendent are increasing students’ achievement scores, improving relations with the teachers’ union and easing severe classroom overcrowding.

But one of Britton’s first tasks could be soothing some minority groups who were outraged that the board on Friday selected Britton, who is an Anglo, over the Latino and black finalists from within the district.

Britton, superintendent of schools in Dade County, Fla., for the last seven years, was joined by the entire school board at a press conference Saturday morning as he talked about his past and outlined his aspirations for the nation’s second largest school district.

Later, Latino activists denounced his selection. “We feel this is a racist decision which clearly shows employment discrimination against Latinos,” said Gina Alonso, who represents a coalition of 40 Latino organizations that has been lobbying for a Latino superintendent. “The message is clear: if you are Latino and the best qualified, don’t bother to apply.”

She said Latino groups will ask the board to reconsider.

“I would say that there will be quite a bit of calamity and clamor raised in the Hispanic community,” agreed Ruben Jauregui, president of the Latin Business Assn., which represents about 600 Latin-owned businesses.

Mindful of minority groups’ disappointment, Britton spoke briefly in Spanish at the press conference, although he later acknowledged that he is still learning the language.

“I tried in a little statement in Spanish this morning to reach out and let people know I am trying to communicate,” said the white-haired, 56-year-old administrator.

Understands Concerns

“I can understand their concerns. . . . When you get a district with more than 50% Hispanic children, you feel a little more comfortable if the person who is leading it and setting the directions understands where you’re coming from, your cultural interests and language needs.”

The Los Angeles district, the nation’s second biggest, has a 58% Latino enrollment that is expected to grow. Blacks and whites each make up 18%.

Deputy Supt. Sidney Thompson, the district’s top-ranking black administrator and one of three finalists for the superintendent post, suggested that it would be wrong to dwell on the board’s unanimous decision.

“There are too many youngsters out there with too many problems; they don’t need ours,” he said. “I don’t think we have time now to say what if and wish. Let’s move on and get these students achieving.”

But Thompson acknowledged that “the board will fully have to expect to get those questions (on its selection). I think the board will respond with what it is they used to come to that decision.”

Attend Conference

Thompson and Deputy Supt. William Anton, the other contender and the district’s top Latino official, sat quietly with senior staff members in the back of the room during the press conference. Anton left immediately afterward.

“I deplore the fact that they did not select a minority candidate,” said Juanita De Sosa, secretary of the San Fernando Valley chapter of the National Assn. for the Advancement of Colored People.

“It can be discouraging. We know there are qualified blacks and Latinos. It’s time they got looked at; it’s time they got selected.”

Alan Clayton, the civil rights representative for the League of United Latin American Citizens, criticized the board’s judgment.

“Frankly, I think they are a little nervous about having a Latino,” he said. “For some reason, when it gets to the top position, non-Latinos seem to be concerned about appointing a Latino.”

Gonzalez Urges Unity

However, the board’s lone Latino member, Larry Gonzalez, said he hopes that everyone “closes ranks and unites” behind Britton.

This is not the first time Britton has found himself embroiled in a racial politics. In 1980, despite protests from blacks in Dade County, Britton was chosen to replace the system’s first black superintendent, who had been indicted and was later convicted in a scandal known as the “Gold Plumbing Caper.”

Three years later, black activists asked the school board to insist that Britton appoint a black person as second in command. Britton favored promoting a black to one of five associate superintendent posts, but balked at having a right-hand man and objected to using race as the deciding factor.

“To use the criterion of race or ethnicity would open us to the charge of discrimination,” Britton said at the time. “People who have been promoted have received their jobs because of competency, not because of race or ethnicity.”

On Saturday, Britton noted that he comes from a racially mixed district where 42% of the students are Spanish-speaking and 32% are black. He said he surrounded himself with minority group members in top administrative posts so that the needs of ethnic groups could be met.

Raised in Pennsylvania

The selection of Britton, who grew up in a tiny Pennsylvania mountain town, represents the first time in nearly 40 years that an official from outside the Los Angeles district has been chosen to lead it. Britton will take the reins from Harry Handler, 58, who is leaving next month to become an adjunct professor in the UCLA Graduate School of Education. Britton will be paid $122,000 a year.

Rita Walters, the board’s president, said Britton’s successful track record as head of a school district and the “striking similarities” of the two urban districts, were key factors in his selection.

The board decided, Walters said, that “the depth and breadth of Dr. Britton’s experience as a superintendent in a decision-making role . . . would be easily transferred to Los Angeles. That experience would bode well for seeking solutions to the problems here.”

During the press conference and afterward, Britton talked briefly about the district’s pressing problems, but stopped short of offering any solutions.

The superintendent said his “major overriding concern” will be improving the tests scores of the district’s 590,000 students. He said he will be meeting with the staff to explore all possible ways to beef up the scores.

Year-Round School Issue

The charged issue of year-round schools is also a “serious concern” and “needs a lot of attention,” he added. The district already has 93 year-round schools.

Britton told of some of his experiences during his 22 years in the Dade County system, where he held several administrative positions while ascending through the ranks.

Saying that he has “great faith in teacher involvement,” he talked enthusiastically about a pilot project starting in 32 Dade County schools this year that gives teachers a chance at peer evaluation and a voice in administration. He also noted that teacher salaries jumped 30% to 35% in the last three to four years.

And he proclaimed his firm belief in bilingual education. It is paramount that students learn English, but not cold turkey, he said. In Dade County, students in the early grades attend classes in Spanish while they learn English. But he cautioned that it is important that students not lose their native language.

Those who know him in Miami said Britton earned the reputation as a “good, gray” administrator. He walked into the top school job just as Miami was absorbing 100,000 Cuban refugees from the Mariel boat lift and trying to recover from the 1980 Liberty City riots. By all accounts, Britton contributed to the defusing of the racially charged atmosphere.

Leadership ‘Impeccable’

Dade County board member Ethel Beckman noted in 1983 that the school system has been a bridge between the county’s ethnic groups, and said Britton’s leadership in this area had been “impeccable.” “There is a renewed confidence on the part of the public in public education,” board member Michael Krop said at the time Britton’s contract was extended. Another board member suggested that Britton removed “the politics of cronyism” from administrative personnel decisions.

When Dade County board members learned this spring that Britton was in the running for the Los Angeles job, they treated the matter as a crisis.

“Maybe he wants half a million dollars, two chauffeurs and three bodyguards,” said Paul Cejas, board chairman, in February. “Let’s find out what he wants, then negotiate.”

Britton, who was once divorced, is married and has two daughters.

When he was 16, he learned that he was adopted and sought out his natural parents. He had his name changed from Moscato, the name of his adoptive parents, to Britton, his natural parents’ name, according to a 1981 profile in the Miami Herald.

Taught Science

He holds a Ph.D. degree in educational administration from the University of Pennsylvania, and initially taught science in public schools in Pennsylvania. He later became a curriculum research administrator in Cleveland at the age of 31. Next, he went to Miami.

After Saturday’s press conference, Britton said he was following with interest the highly publicized battle state school Supt. Bill Honig and Gov. George Deukmejian are waging over next year’s budget for public schools.

Saying that he and Honig are “on the same wave length,” Britton said one reason he decided to come to Los Angeles was because “someone like Honig is heading up the state’s education leadership.”

“We need a strong person on the state level waving the flag,” he added.