He's been credited with improving academic achievement -- modestly in some cases. He's also handled crises: integration in Pasadena, bankruptcy that preceded his arrival in San Jose, an asbestos scare in New York schools.
Now he follows Brewer, who failed to win over board members despite gains in test scores and voters' recent passage of a record $7-billion school construction bond. Brewer's critics said he that mastered neither the politics of L.A. nor the district's bureaucracy and that he moved too slowly. Cortines, they insisted, is likely to do better.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Friday, December 19, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 2 inches; 52 words Type of Material: Correction
Ramon Cortines: A California section article on Wednesday reported that incoming Los Angeles Unified Supt. Ramon C. Cortines would receive up to $10,000 per year in expense reimbursements. School district officials have since corrected information they previously provided. The contract specifies that the new superintendent will be reimbursed for "appropriate professional expenses."
"It's going to be 'Sleepless in L.A.' because he's relentless," said board member Richard Vladovic, who worked as an assistant superintendent under Cortines eight years ago. "Ray would call my office at 6 in the morning with the expectation that I'd be there."
Echoing others, Vladovic described Cortines as firm but fair; decisive yet open-minded, never late for a meeting "because time was precious. He's all about business, and it's always about what's best for kids. I never saw anything self-serving."
As Brewer's top deputy, Cortines quickly assumed responsibility for both day-to-day operations and long-term planning, allowing for a smooth transition into the top job.
Cortines immediately faces the challenge of $200 million to $400 million in midyear budget reductions, and similar levels of slashing are predicted for each of the next two years. In addition, he will oversee contentious union negotiations.
"This is the worst I've ever seen it," Cortines said of the shortfall.
Even so, Cortines continues to insist that budget cuts are no excuse for failing to improve schools. He's visited all 34 low-performing campuses that Brewer designated as "high priority."
"I still have a sense of urgency and impatience that I don't apologize for," Cortines said, "because children only have nine months in a particular grade level."
Cortines has long talked about placing a more intense focus on dropouts and about creating "real" accountability for administrators -- which, he said, has never existed in the school system.
In February 2007, while working for Villaraigosa, Cortines publicly blamed the "damn bureaucracy" that he said withheld a report on dropouts. But he added: "I'm not saying that the mayor's office doesn't have some blame also. What I am saying is that we have got to come together."
He talks in similar terms now about unifying the vision of the Board of Education.
