Los Angeles mayor abandons efforts to obtain control over the operation of Los Angeles Unified School District
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa of Los Angeles has decided to abandon efforts to obtain control over the operation of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). The mayor has announced he will not appeal a court ruling nullifying a law that would have given him substantial authority over LAUSD. The announcement comes on the heels of the school board election in which two candidates he backed won, which gives the mayor a 4-3 advantage in terms of support on the board. Mr. Villaraigosa has indicated that it is time to eschew the legislative and legal battles, and instead pursue the common goals of small, safe, and clean schools; a rigorous curriculum, parent involvement; and increased input for teachers. LAUSD Superintendent David L. Brewer has announced the creation of a parent and community engagement division. The district's parent-involvement efforts have been a frequent source of criticism in past audits. The superintendent's plan envisions broader community participation, tapping into civic resources and philanthropic wealth to benefit schools. "We need systemic change, but, more important, we need partnerships…. No urban school district in this country" has solved the kind of problems that persist in L.A. Unified," he says. The state courts found little to like but focused primarily on constitutional provisions separating cities and school districts. Although the mayor could have appealed to the state supreme court, some legal experts believe the law's prospects looked dim. Giving up on the law also essentially takes the mayor off the hook for student achievement. In addition, the new board will be spared pressure to drop a legal argument that defeated him in court.
Los Angeles Times
By Howard Blume
[Full story]
[Editor’s Note: A summary of the appeals court decision, with links to the lower court ruling and to background information, is posted below. See also the profile of Mr. Villaraigosa in the New Yorker, which includes much discussion of his takeover bid.]
[NSBA School Law pages on Mendoza v. State of Calif.]
New Yorker
By Connie Bruck
[Full article]