School reform plan is approved

The Board of Education on Tuesday narrowly approved a key component of a plan to turn around the lowest-performing middle and high schools in the Los Angeles Unified School District. At issue were contracts for consultants to help as many as 34 schools create a required reform plan.

The initial vote ended in a 3-3 tally -- a loss for Supt. David L. Brewer. The vote came after he had pressed strongly for approval. Late-arriving board member Tamar Galatzan cast the tie-breaker.

Consultants will initially get about $2,000 per diem for 10 days’ work. Among other things, board members objected to relying on contractors, questioning their performance and how they would be held accountable.