Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Letters to the editor: CORTINES TIES TO SCHOLASTIC, LAUSD MAY CUT 6 DAYS

Letters to the Editor of the LA Times | February 16, 2010

Cortines' ties to Scholastic Inc.Re “Cortines works for L.A Unified supplier,” Feb. 12

As an elementary school library aide in the Los Angeles Unified School District for more than 15 years, I invite Supt. Ramon C. Cortines to use his windfall to pay back the librarians who currently must take furlough days.

And perhaps he could also fund those of us who run the in-school Scholastic Book Fairs that pad his pocket.

Laurie Sisson Pisano

Rancho Palos Verdes

 

"I'm tired of the selfish attitudes of some," says Cortines, as he collects $151,186 this year from his side job on the board of Scholastic Inc., which, according to The Times, has received $5.2 million from the LAUSD since Cortines' arrival.

Maybe Cortines needs to return to school to learn the meaning of the word "hypocrisy."

Tim Hanson

Santa Monica

 

Your article about Cortines appears to infer he is up to some sinister act, but goes on to explain his full disclosure and continued efforts not to overstep his boundaries.

Los Angeles is fortunate to have this very capable individual handling what must seem like a completely thankless job -- and he is attacked for being ethical. I just don't get it.

Richard Rood

Pasadena

Re “LAUSD may cut 6 days,” Feb. 13

I don't understand why Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa doesn't just advocate cutting six days' pay out of each teacher's salary and keeping the present length of the school year.

Teachers want to be perceived as professionals. As professionals, they must realize the work required for a full year of education doesn't magically shrink to fit a mayoral edict.

I am a faculty member at a private university, and as we are experiencing cuts in finances -- including salaries -- I am still expected to teach the same number of classes, hold the same office hours and so on.

I can't help feeling the sense of entitlement felt by teachers is antithetical to their being perceived as professionals.

Richard Cornez

Redlands

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