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As supporters gathered at a rally outside of LA Unified headquarters in advance of today’s school board meeting, the scorecard of those who have come out in support of Superintendent John Deasy versus those who have voiced opposition is increasingly lop-sided. In the “Deasy should go” column is one of the most powerful unions in the country, the Los Angeles teachers union (UTLA) and union advocate and historian Diane Ravitch, who is an outspoken Deasy critic.
Meanwhile, the ‘Deasy should stay’ list is getting longer. In addition to sponsors of the rally, a coalition of community groups called CLASS which includes United Way and Teach for America, recent support has come from Mayor Eric Garcetti, LAPD Chief Charlie Beck, the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times and Daily News, a letter of support signed by 19 people including Mickey Kantor, former Clinton adviser and Robert Ross president of the California Endowment as well as a letter from community groups and activist and singer John Legend.