LAUSD Chief Facilities Executive James D. Sohn Announces Resignation - Interim to be Named Shortly

March 15, 2011

Contact: Shannon Haber
213.703.6958 (cell)

(Los Angeles, CA) James D. Sohn, Chief Facilities Executive for the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), today announced that he has submitted his letter of resignation to LAUSD Superintendent Ramon C. Cortines. Sohn, who has served the District in numerous leadership positions on and off since 2002, will continue to serve as Chief Facilities Executive until the end of March.

"I'm happy to have had the opportunity to contribute to a truly world-class organization," Sohn said. "The Facilities Services Division has fulfilled Bond Program goals and significantly invested in Maintenance and Operations efforts, while transforming itself into a more efficient Division. We have consolidated and restructured departments, implemented the design-build delivery model and resized the organization to a level that is sustainable for years to come.”

"For nearly two years, James Sohn has successfully headed our Facilities Services Division during a very difficult budgetary crisis,” Cortines said. "When he first came to me with his resignation in fall 2010, I asked him to stay on so that reform efforts and funding for additional projects could be finalized. Our building program has made amazing progress under James’ guidance, and I am grateful for his enthusiasm and commitment to excellence in building, repairing and maintaining our schools. He has positioned the program well for his successor."

“During James’ time, many projects that had languished became a reality such as Central Los Angeles High School #12, Valley Region Middle School #3, and redevelopment projects at Dorsey High School, 9th Street Elementary School, Fremont High School, Harbor Teacher Preparatory Academy and Jordan High School,” LAUSD Board President Mónica García said. “In fact, nearly 10,000 jobs will be generated over the next seven years as a result of James’ strategic and creative vision that brought the Board a plan to fund $531 million of new capital projects in 2011 despite the District’s inability to issue additional local bonds.”

As Chief Facilities Executive for the largest school construction and repair program – $19.5 billion – in the nation's history, Sohn is leading the charge to build 131 new K-12 schools and complete thousands of repair and modernization projects at existing schools. To date, 101 new K-12 schools and more than 20,000 upgrade projects have been completed throughout the District.

Specifically, during Sohn’s tenure, 21 new K-12 schools were opened to reduce overcrowding including the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools campus, team cleaning was implemented, the Capital Improvement Program Reserve was created, and nearly $1 billion was reallocated to enable additional projects to be undertaken throughout the District.

Cortines said he will announce an interim replacement for Sohn in the immediate future.

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Contributed by Facilities News