The Majority Rules

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Ballots cast for their opponents would likely keep Superintendent Alan Bersin—and his controversial reform approach—in place.

Alan Bersin doesn’t hold elective office. The San Diego Unified School District superintendent is appointed. Such is not the case with the district’s five school board members (who appoint the superintendent). This year, two board seats are up for grabs. On November 5, Bersin’s name won’t be on the ballot—literally. In essence, though, the winners in Districts B and C will be determined largely on voter sentiment toward the enigmatic Bersin and the controversial direction he has laid out for public education.

Teachers—and especially their union—have not embraced the literacy-heavy Blueprint for Student Success reforms championed by Bersin and the plan’s architect, chancellor of instruction Anthony Alvarado. State test scores recently showed modest improvement. But that good news was greeted with all-too-common backlash from those within the educational system who feel alienated by Bersin.

The superintendent, quite often hard to find for comment, recently took pains to return telephone calls from San Diego Magazine.

Bersin is not endorsing any candidates for school board. “I’m not talking about the elections one way or another,” he says. “I’m here to stay the course right now.”

Asked if he believes the two board races are a referendum on his management, Bersin says, “I don’t think that’s an issue that has emerged in the races. I think those discussions are yet to come.”

Currently, three of five board trustees (Sue Braun, Ron Ottinger and Ed Lopez) vote for nearly every Bersin initiative. The minority voice pairs Frances O’Neill Zimmerman and John de Beck. There has been conjecture that Bersin—who recently got a new, four-year contract—would leave the job if November election results cause a shift of power.

“I won’t speculate on that,” says Bersin. “I’m taking the job as it comes. After the election, I will work with the new board.”

De Beck, however, willingly discusses the issue in black-and-white terms. “This election is a referendum on Alan Bersin,” he says. “It’s that plain and simple.”

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