Mayor's Takeover Plan Almost a Done Deal
By Ashley Case
LA Independent
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s compromise plan to takeover the city’s school system is practically ready for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign.
Villaraigosa appears to have crossed the last major hurdle in the past week, getting West Hollywood and other cities sending students to Los Angeles public schools to end their opposition.
The state Senate's Appropriations Committee is expected to approve Assembly Bill 1381 on Thursday before it goes to the full Senate for a final vote.
For West Hollywood and other cities, their change of heart began after meeting with Thomas Saenz, Villaraigosa’s top legal adviser who notified them the mayor was making a major concession to gain their support.
“The mayor has offered giving up part of his authority on decision-making to assure the cities play a role,” said West Hollywood Councilman Jeff Prang. “I think that's what a lot of us were looking for.”
Villaraigosa gave up his original position of holding 80 percent of the vote in major decisions, including the selection of a superintendent.
The Council of Mayors representing the 26 other cities in the LAUSD will now have at least half the cities comprising the panel and would have to sign off on major decisions.
According to Prang. the proposed changes to the legislative bill authorizing the takeover along with an agreement from United Teachers Los Angeles union officials to work with the other cities have eliminated much of those cities 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.
On Tuesday, the Southeast Cities Coalition — comprised of South Gate, Maywood, Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park and Vernon — announced its support for Villaraigosa’s plan.
In return, an amendment was added that would give the six southeastern Los Angeles County cities veto power during the selection of a regional superintendent.
Villaraigosa called the smaller cities’ endorsement “a victory for change, a victory for parents and a victory for our children.”
“No matter what you hear, this bill is not about mayoral control, power or politics,” Villaraigosa said. “It's about creating better about creating better schools for our kids.”
The proposed legislation would shift the bulk of decision-making authority from the seven-member Los Angeles Unified School District board to the superintendent; give the mayor a significant role in managing the nation's second-largest school district; and give individual schools greater control over their budgets and curriculum during a six-year trial period.
If approved by both houses, the governor could sign the measure into law by late September. Schwarzenegger has said he supports the bill.
Link to story
LA Independent
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s compromise plan to takeover the city’s school system is practically ready for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to sign.
Villaraigosa appears to have crossed the last major hurdle in the past week, getting West Hollywood and other cities sending students to Los Angeles public schools to end their opposition.
The state Senate's Appropriations Committee is expected to approve Assembly Bill 1381 on Thursday before it goes to the full Senate for a final vote.
For West Hollywood and other cities, their change of heart began after meeting with Thomas Saenz, Villaraigosa’s top legal adviser who notified them the mayor was making a major concession to gain their support.
“The mayor has offered giving up part of his authority on decision-making to assure the cities play a role,” said West Hollywood Councilman Jeff Prang. “I think that's what a lot of us were looking for.”
Villaraigosa gave up his original position of holding 80 percent of the vote in major decisions, including the selection of a superintendent.
The Council of Mayors representing the 26 other cities in the LAUSD will now have at least half the cities comprising the panel and would have to sign off on major decisions.
According to Prang. the proposed changes to the legislative bill authorizing the takeover along with an agreement from United Teachers Los Angeles union officials to work with the other cities have eliminated much of those cities 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.
On Tuesday, the Southeast Cities Coalition — comprised of South Gate, Maywood, Bell, Cudahy, Huntington Park and Vernon — announced its support for Villaraigosa’s plan.
In return, an amendment was added that would give the six southeastern Los Angeles County cities veto power during the selection of a regional superintendent.
Villaraigosa called the smaller cities’ endorsement “a victory for change, a victory for parents and a victory for our children.”
“No matter what you hear, this bill is not about mayoral control, power or politics,” Villaraigosa said. “It's about creating better about creating better schools for our kids.”
The proposed legislation would shift the bulk of decision-making authority from the seven-member Los Angeles Unified School District board to the superintendent; give the mayor a significant role in managing the nation's second-largest school district; and give individual schools greater control over their budgets and curriculum during a six-year trial period.
If approved by both houses, the governor could sign the measure into law by late September. Schwarzenegger has said he supports the bill.
Link to story
