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This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

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LAUSD Superintendent Marks 100 Days in Office

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One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

So far, so good? Or maybe not? New Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Ramon Cortines has entered into his job at a tough time while facing a $718 million budget deficit--that's a bigger red number than the city of Los Angeles. Cortines was once the interim superintendent back in 2000 and he drafted up plans he is only getting to implement this time around: "Its central office would be lean; decisions would be made on campus by teachers and principals; communities would play a key role in boosting neighborhood schools," the Daily News lists in a nice profile of him. Of course, that looks good on paper, but the process to get there is not without controversy, especially from the infamous teachers union.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

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