LOS ANGELES (CNS) - Deputy Superintendent Megan Reilly was offered the position of interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District today while the Board of Education searches for a replacement for Austin Beutner, who announced yesterday that he will step down when his contract expires June 30.
“The Board has full faith in Ms. Reilly's ability to sustain the District's efforts to support students and families and ensure a seamless transition,'' the LAUSD said, adding that official action will follow at an upcoming board meeting.
Reilly has served as deputy superintendent of business services and operations since June 2019, overseeing human resources, finance, facilities, transportation, information technology, school safety and other operations.
LAUSD officials said she has been integral to the success of the Grab & Go meal distribution centers, the distribution of electronic devices to students and educators, and meeting the complex demands of the reopening of schools amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Reilly previously served the district from 2007 to 2017 as its chief financial officer, and after that was the chief business officer for the Santa Clara County Office of Education.
I announcing his departure on Thursday to the district's Board of Education, Beutner called his role with the LAUSD “the most rewarding job I've held during my nearly 40-year career.''
Beutner, 61, has been LAUSD's superintendent since May 2018. He suggested that the board could quickly find a replacement from within.
“I will remain focused on the task of ensuring that schools reopen in the safest way possible while helping in a seamless leadership transition,'' he wrote. “I believe the next superintendent of Los Angeles Unified can be found amongst the current team and she or he will be well placed to continue the progress at this critical time. The leadership ranks of Los Angeles Unified have never been stronger and I know you share my gratitude for the commitment of the women and men who answer the call to serve in public education.''
Beutner's departure caps the most tumultuous year in the district's history, with all campuses forced to close due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all classes turning on a dime from in-person to online. Beutner also shepherded the district through a teachers' strike in 2019.
The Board of Education has had multiple closed-door discussions regarding Beutner's employment in recent weeks, given the pending expiration of his contract. The board members issued a joint statement thanking him for his “dedicated service to the students and families of LA Unified,'' particularly during the pandemic.
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