HEAD OF TROUBLED CHARTER SCHOOL COMPANY RESIGNS: Mike Piscal, 44, who founded and ran ICEF Public Schools, steps down amid an ongoing financial crisis that will result in slashing the organization's payroll by about 25%.
BY HOWARD BLUME, LOS ANGELES TIMES | HTTP://LAT.MS/9JTSUF
October 9, 2010 - The founder of a troubled charter school company, one of the nation's largest, has resigned amid an ongoing financial crisis that will result in slashing the organization's payroll by about 25%.
The departure of Mike Piscal, 44, who started and ran ICEF Public Schools, was confirmed Thursday night at a meeting with more than 1,000 parents and staff. The austerity measures, which will include midyear layoffs of an undetermined number of teachers, are both fiscally necessary and required by benefactors who stepped forward last week to pledge help, said interim chief executive Caprice Young.
ICEF, which serves about 4,500 students, also wants help for its 15 campuses from the Los Angeles Unified School District, Young said. ICEF is seeking space at district schools to reduce leasing costs and wants the district's assistance in obtaining short-term loans at low interest.
Young, a former Los Angeles Board of Education president, was scheduled to meet Friday with L.A. schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines.