"L.A.'s top school official on Thursday unveiled his plan to shut down Fremont High and start over from scratch -- a move denounced by the teachers union but applauded by city leaders and the nation's secretary of education.
After quietly alerting the Fremont staff Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines spoke separately with students, parents, city leaders and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who was in town to promote such school turnarounds.
Fremont, Cortines said, has shown 'some promise, with some of the finest teachers and the right principal . . . but it needed to be given a nudge because the status quo is not acceptable.
'There has to be a sense of urgency,' he said."
After quietly alerting the Fremont staff Wednesday afternoon, Los Angeles Unified School District Supt. Ramon C. Cortines spoke separately with students, parents, city leaders and U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, who was in town to promote such school turnarounds.
Fremont, Cortines said, has shown 'some promise, with some of the finest teachers and the right principal . . . but it needed to be given a nudge because the status quo is not acceptable.
'There has to be a sense of urgency,' he said."