Method of Replacing Schools Chief Assailed

Two board members in the Hacienda La Puente Unified School District are protesting the way a replacement was chosen to fill in for the district superintendent, who went on a several-month medical leave last week.

John Kramer, assistant superintendent for business services, sent board members a brief note last week informing them that according to district policy, he would take over as interim superintendent.

He replaces Supt. James E. Johnson, who was ordered by his doctor to take medical leave after being diagnosed with stress-related hypertension.

Board members Yvonne Garcia and Lyla Eddington said district policy allows for such appointments only on a short-term basis and that they want a say in appointing a replacement who will make decisions for as long as two months.

But board President Ken Manning said there is no cause for reassessing the appointment, adding, “As far as I’m concerned, he’s a very capable administrator, and he can run the district.”