Austin Beutner named superintendent of LA schools
LOS ANGELES - Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation's second-largest school system.
His selection, by a 5-2 vote, was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates.
Board members George McKenna and Scott Schmerlson voted no.
The board approved a three-year contract, giving Beutner a base annual salary of $350,000, as well as a driver and security.
The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Superintendent Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system.
Beutner, 58, has no background leading
