LAUSD Rehires Sexual Predator to Supervise 650,000 Students

By Lydia A. Gutiérrez

Former Superintendent Deasy resigned for not allowing proper bidding of contracts regarding billion dollar iPad purchases; while, Dr. Cortines ...

While Dr. Cortines was LAUSD Superintendent making $250,000, he also served on the Scholastic Board and received an additional $150,000 a year, all the while he was making contractual decisions about the Scholastic Publishing Company. He claimed he was able to keep separate any decision-making and it was not a conflict of interest; a somewhat similar situation that brought on LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy to resign when it was discovered that it was a no bid contract with Apple Corporation in the purchase of laptops for LAUSD students.

Finally, Dr. Cortines made every attempt to make sure that the public never found out how LAUSD spent its money. It was Dr. Cortines who spearheaded the reduction of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) under the blessings of the LAUSD School Board. The over spending of consultants and construction was blatant and it was a blemish that the LAUSD School Board wanted covered up.

Candidate Lydia Gutierrez for LAUSD School Board District 7 said, "LAUSD is in dire need of real leadership and Dr. Cortines 'does not' fit that description. LAUSD School Board has failed the parents and students by bring back a man who was accused of being a sexual predator and admitted to the sexual contact. Dr. Cortines has not put the welfare of the students of LAUSD first but his own opportunities." She further when on to say, "The LAUSD School Board literally threw up their hands when the MiSiS incident happened. The very first week of the computer failure and students needs were not being met, they should have had a plan B; but lack of leadership by the Board and Superintendent failed the needs of many students, Jefferson High School."

Ms. Gutierrez continue, "The LAUSD School Board has failed the public and especially our children. The Office of Inspector General plays a major role in assuring that funding is used wisely and makes it into the classroom. Every School Board member should be making sure that the OIG office is fully funded and not hampered in any way in performing its job. It is dishearten to know they have brought back Dr. Cortines, who played a major role in weakening OIG."

Lydia Gutierrez is running for LAUSD School Board District 7. She was born and raised in District 7, Harbor Gateway, went to school at Meyler Elementary School, Stephen M. White Middle School and Narbonne High School, and resides in San Pedro. Lydia has over 20 years teaching experience. She has served as a Neighborhood Council board member for the City of Los Angeles, 7 years. She holds 2 teaching credentials, a master's and has been a master teacher for the UCLA Mathematics projects. Before teaching, she was an administrator and acting cost estimating supervisor in the aerospace industry