Cortines departs Los Angeles school district

From The Los Angeles Times: Ramon C. Cortines has left the superintendent’s job in the Los Angeles Unified School District after dealing with the worst budget crisis in memory and constant political pressures from an aggressive mayor and other powerful, often conflicting forces. The superintendent's supporters and critics agree that Cortines, known for an innate stubbornness and self-confident pride, managed these and other pressures by adjusting, creating results that he felt would benefit students and that would match his own goals for the school system. JULY 2010... From The Los Angeles Times: Amid persistent budget woes and increasing political pressure, Los Angeles schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines has confirmed that he plans to step down next spring. The news was not unexpected: Cortines, 78, had said he expected to serve two to three years when he took the job in December 2008.