Council Likely to Back School Reform Plan
By Rick Orlov
LA Daily News
The Los Angeles City Council appeared poised today to support Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed legislation to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District, even as his office continued Thursday to lobby council members and officials from other cities to join the effort.
At least nine council members indicated Thursday that they would back Assembly Bill 1381 - one more than needed for passage of the reform measure.
While the tally is enough for the legislation to win council approval, officials with the Mayor's Office were continuing to try to round up a unanimous vote that would indicate a unified vote of confidence and help build momentum for the measure.
No council member has publicly opposed the plan, but the Mayor's Office continued to meet privately with wavering members to try to win their support.
Undecided members who have asked to meet with the Mayor's Office on the issue include Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine, Eric Garcetti and Bernard Parks.
Tony Cardenas and Jan Perry could not be reached for comment.
Some council members have expressed reservations over details of the plan - such as staffing of school board offices - but have been assured the Mayor's Office will pursue changes as the measure makes its way through the state Legislature in what has been a carefully orchestrated political plan.
Also Thursday, Thomas Saenz, the mayor's top legal adviser, met with representatives of the 26 other cities that send children to the LAUSD and offered a major concession to win support when the bill goes before the Senate Appropriations Committee next week.
"The mayor has offered giving up part of his authority on decision-making to assure the cities play a role," West Hollywood Councilman Jeff Prang said. "I think that's what a lot of us were looking for."
Under the original plan, Villaraigosa would have had 80 percent of the vote in major matters, including selection of a superintendent.
The latest proposal requires major decisions to get 90 percent approval from the Council of Mayors - meaning at least half the cities comprising the panel would have to sign off on major decisions.
Prang said the proposed changes - as well as agreement from United Teachers Los Angeles union officials to work with the other cities - has eliminated much of the earlier opposition.
"We wanted the mayor to know that we care as much as he does about the schools and want to play a role in the reform effort," Prang said.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce voted Thursday to back Villaraigosa's efforts.
The support came after a closed-door meeting of chamber directors and came with some qualifications, including that the chamber believes the mayor should have the power to appoint a board of trustees to oversee the district and replace the current elected board.
"This bill is not a cure, it's the beginning of a treatment to make the LAUSD the best urban school district in the nation," said Gary Toebben, president and chief executive officer of the business organization.
"In order to do that, the entire community must be engaged, and the mayor has galvanized the community around education unlike ever before."
While its recommendation of an appointed board is not in the legislation, Toebben said the group viewed the measure as the beginning of an effort to set in place a new system for how the LAUSD is run.
Even with the chamber coming out in favor of the measure, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association said it will remain opposed to the mayor's effort. In addition, the group said it believes there should be a public vote on the issue.
HOW THEY PLAN TO VOTE
The City Council is scheduled today to consider Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed legislation to take over the LAUSD. At least eight votes are needed for it to pass. Here is how members said Thursday they would vote:
YES: Wendy Greuel, Janice Hahn, Jose Huizar, Tom LaBonge, Alex Padilla, Bill Rosendahl, Greig Smith, Jack Weiss, Herb Wesson.
UNDECIDED: Eric Garcetti, Bernard Parks, Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine.
UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: Tony Cardenas, Jan Perry.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_4165363
LA Daily News
The Los Angeles City Council appeared poised today to support Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed legislation to reform the Los Angeles Unified School District, even as his office continued Thursday to lobby council members and officials from other cities to join the effort.
At least nine council members indicated Thursday that they would back Assembly Bill 1381 - one more than needed for passage of the reform measure.
While the tally is enough for the legislation to win council approval, officials with the Mayor's Office were continuing to try to round up a unanimous vote that would indicate a unified vote of confidence and help build momentum for the measure.
No council member has publicly opposed the plan, but the Mayor's Office continued to meet privately with wavering members to try to win their support.
Undecided members who have asked to meet with the Mayor's Office on the issue include Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine, Eric Garcetti and Bernard Parks.
Tony Cardenas and Jan Perry could not be reached for comment.
Some council members have expressed reservations over details of the plan - such as staffing of school board offices - but have been assured the Mayor's Office will pursue changes as the measure makes its way through the state Legislature in what has been a carefully orchestrated political plan.
Also Thursday, Thomas Saenz, the mayor's top legal adviser, met with representatives of the 26 other cities that send children to the LAUSD and offered a major concession to win support when the bill goes before the Senate Appropriations Committee next week.
"The mayor has offered giving up part of his authority on decision-making to assure the cities play a role," West Hollywood Councilman Jeff Prang said. "I think that's what a lot of us were looking for."
Under the original plan, Villaraigosa would have had 80 percent of the vote in major matters, including selection of a superintendent.
The latest proposal requires major decisions to get 90 percent approval from the Council of Mayors - meaning at least half the cities comprising the panel would have to sign off on major decisions.
Prang said the proposed changes - as well as agreement from United Teachers Los Angeles union officials to work with the other cities - has eliminated much of the earlier opposition.
"We wanted the mayor to know that we care as much as he does about the schools and want to play a role in the reform effort," Prang said.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce voted Thursday to back Villaraigosa's efforts.
The support came after a closed-door meeting of chamber directors and came with some qualifications, including that the chamber believes the mayor should have the power to appoint a board of trustees to oversee the district and replace the current elected board.
"This bill is not a cure, it's the beginning of a treatment to make the LAUSD the best urban school district in the nation," said Gary Toebben, president and chief executive officer of the business organization.
"In order to do that, the entire community must be engaged, and the mayor has galvanized the community around education unlike ever before."
While its recommendation of an appointed board is not in the legislation, Toebben said the group viewed the measure as the beginning of an effort to set in place a new system for how the LAUSD is run.
Even with the chamber coming out in favor of the measure, the Valley Industry and Commerce Association said it will remain opposed to the mayor's effort. In addition, the group said it believes there should be a public vote on the issue.
HOW THEY PLAN TO VOTE
The City Council is scheduled today to consider Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's proposed legislation to take over the LAUSD. At least eight votes are needed for it to pass. Here is how members said Thursday they would vote:
YES: Wendy Greuel, Janice Hahn, Jose Huizar, Tom LaBonge, Alex Padilla, Bill Rosendahl, Greig Smith, Jack Weiss, Herb Wesson.
UNDECIDED: Eric Garcetti, Bernard Parks, Ed Reyes, Dennis Zine.
UNAVAILABLE FOR COMMENT: Tony Cardenas, Jan Perry.
http://www.dailynews.com/news/ci_4165363
