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L.A. Unified Says it Believes Superintendent Deasy Acted Ethically on iPads

A separation agreement released by the district made reference to its ongoing investigation, but added that "the Board anticipates that the Inspector General's report will confirm" that Deasy acted appropriately.

As part of its settlement this week with former schools Supt. John Deasy, the Los Angeles Board of Education declared that it did not believe Deasy had done anything wrong in connection with the project to provide students with iPads, even though the district has an ongoing investigation into the propriety of the bidding process.

The unusual provision was one of the more striking elements of a separation agreement released Thursday by the L.A. Unified School District. Under it, Deasy will remain on salary till the end of the year, worth more than $70,000, and he will get extended benefits and a payout for unused vacation days.

But this deal also included a carefully negotiated press release: "The board wishes to state that at this time, it does not believe that the Superintendent engaged in any ethical violations or unlawful acts," the statement read in part.

It also made reference to the ongoing inquiry, adding that "the Board anticipates that the Inspector General's report will confirm" that Deasy acted appropriately.

The former schools chief came under scrutiny for his role in the $1.3-billion iPad project when emails recently released showed that he and a top aide had communications with vendors that could have affected the bidding process. Deasy has denied any wrongdoing.

The flap was one of several that added to friction between the superintendent and his bosses. In response to the disclosures, board members asked their inspector general to investigate; the inquiry will not be completed for some time.

Deasy resigned after a tumultuous 3½-year stint as superintendent, marred by disagreements with the school board and problems with high-profile initiatives but boosted by significant gains in important markers of student achievement.

Great attention has been given to Deasy's effort to provide iPads to every student, teacher and school administrator. Deasy still defends the goals and the execution of that project, even though he agreed to launch a new bidding process for the next computer purchases.

On Friday, Deasy insisted to reporters that the rocky iPad rollout played no role in his resignation. He placed blame instead on political pressures that resulted in the needs of students taking a back seat to adult agendas — for which he partly faulted the teachers union in Los Angeles.

His efforts to improve district schools, sometimes at the expense of teacher job protections, have made him a target of the union, he said.

Children are "voiceless and defenseless," Deasy said. "My concern is that youths' well-being be paramount and that their rights come first. Quite frankly, that's the only reason we open our doors when we begin work in public education."

The former superintendent said he worried that his departure could lead to the scaling back or elimination of key policies. Among them: a teacher evaluation system, stricter bars for gaining tenure, a classroom breakfast program and a stronger embrace of aggressive actions to turn around struggling schools — such as installing a new faculty.

"All the policies could be at risk. I think that would be a shame for youth since I think there is unquestionable and unassailable information on how well students have done," Deasy said. "I hope that isn't the case, but on the other hand, there is zero that I can do about that."

Deasy also added that he is considering several other lines of work, including working within the youth criminal justice system, working to develop and support superintendents or a possible run for public office.

Board members and some observers take issue with Deasy's analysis of his downfall. The teachers union has accused him of an autocratic, overly punitive leadership style and of simply making bad decisions.

The school board approved the superintendent's separation agreement by a vote of 6 to 1, with Monica Ratliff opposing.

In an interview with The Times on Friday, Ratliff said she was "uncomfortable with some of the language in the agreement." She declined to specify what was objectionable.

Separately, however, she noted that investigations into the iPad contract and a faulty student records system are ongoing. It would be impossible for her to predict or comment on what the findings would be, she said.

"We don't know enough," Ratliff said. "…I'm really looking forward to the inspector general's final report."

Board member Steve Zimmer defended the press release, saying that it was important to confront the obvious, that people would associate Deasy's departure with the iPad program. The issue has been so "prominent in people's minds."

"I do not believe that the superintendent knowingly violated any laws or ethical guidelines so I personally had no problem making that statement," he said.

But Zimmer also noted that the statement included a necessary reference to the unfinished inquiry.

"I don't have the ability to comment on an investigation that I haven't seen and that isn't complete," Zimmer said. "I have to leave open the possibility that there will be things in that report that I don't expect in there."

©2014 the Los Angeles Times