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No matter what happens later today when LA Unified superintendent John Deasy is set to emerge from a closed-door session with school board members to discuss his future, the events leading up to this moment remain murky. Will we ever know if Deasy is being pushed out, resigning or something in between?
One thing is clear: a story posted on the LA Times website last Thursday, stating as fact that Deasy was ‘to resign’ set off a twitter frenzy, despite the fact that, well, it wasn’t entirely true. Exactly what transpired last Thursday between John Deasy and the school board president Richard Vladovic may never be revealed — but what we do know is the media moved from certainty to rumor in what we might call a twitter-u-turn:
BREAKING: L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy to resign, @howardblume reports. More tk on @LANow
— Matt Stevens (@MattStevensLAT) October 25, 2013
Breaking News: John Deasy Resigns http://t.co/FlTTTbYgYH— Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) October 24, 2013 7:15pm
“We are shocked,” reaction to LA. schools Supt. John Deasy resignation plan @howardblume scoop http://t.co/hQGCYiLJdy
— Shelby Grad (@shelbygrad) October 25, 2013
L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy to resign Vladovic aide claims surprise
— alexanderrusso (@alexanderrusso) October 24, 2013 10:18pm
LA teachers’ union happy to see Deasy go. Official statement: — Madeleine Brand (@TheMadBrand) October 25, 2013 9:52pm
correct. Rumors (perhaps purposeful) but no letter of resignation from @DrDeasyLAUSD to #LAUSD — Tami Abdollah (@latams) October 25, 2013 11:36pm
Source tells @LADNschools that Deasy told only some board members of plan to resign; Supe won’t confirm or deny — David Zahniser (@DavidZahniser) October 25, 2013 10:05pm
Hmm, so if Deasy didn’t actually resign as LAUSD supe, does that mean someone was trying out how the news would play w/ the public? — Liz Dwyer (@losangelista) October 24, 2013 10:32pm
While rumors fly @DrDeasyLAUSD tells @LASchoolReport that he has ‘not submitted letter of resignation’ #lausd — LA School Report (@LASchoolReport) October 24, 2013 11:10pm
Confusing @latimes home page. 2 articles on LAUSD head: “Deasy to resign” v. “He has not submitted resignation.”— John S. Bracken (@jsb) October 25, 2013 5:45AM
Deasy Resignation Not So Certain After All
— Diane Ravitch (@DianeRavitch) October 25, 2013 5:52AM
L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy may leave in coming months http://t.co/EivI4Rqav7— LAT’s Most Viewed (@latimesmost) October 25, 2013
Speculation that LAUSD Supt. Deasy may resign puts his future & the district’s direction in doubt. Discuss at 9 a.m. http://t.co/Ds2KX18Abr— L.A. Times: L.A. Now (@LANow) October 28, 2013 8:30AM
Typical LA Times: Paper shifts from ‘Supt. John Deasy to resign’ to ‘Deasy may leave’ without explanation http://t.co/5MeqOZ2RUX— Dennis Romero (@dennisjromero) October 25, 2013
Say what? @latimes explains backtrack on Deasy:’we had on the record confirmation from Vladovic’s office. But then..’ http://t.co/zvimt63D5m— LA School Report (@LASchoolReport) October 29, 2013