Los Angeles Daily News
Mayor's say-so in LAUSD backed
Villaraigosa builds on Hahn proposal
By Rick Orlov
Staff Writer

Friday, April 22, 2005 - Education issues dominated the mayor's race again Thursday with challenger Antonio Villaraigosa visiting a charter school and declaring the mayor should have direct authority over the city's public schools to spur reform and improve student achievement.

Earlier this week, Mayor James Hahn said he would support a charter amendment allowing the mayor to appoint three additional members to the Los Angeles Unified School District board and create five new charter campuses each year.

Villaraigosa said he would go even further and would back a charter amendment giving the mayor direct authority over the schools, similar to systems in Chicago and New York City.

"I think there is a critical mass of support out there where people want to see one person accountable," Villaraigosa said during a news conference at Animo School South in South Los Angeles. "I think that should be the mayor."

The Eastside councilman also said he would promote the creation of more Parent Teacher Associations, provide on-campus resource centers for parents and encourage parents to sign contracts promising to review homework, attend school functions and support school activities.

But Hahn was skeptical of his opponent's plan, saying Villaraigosa is tied too closely to United Teachers Los Angeles -- the teachers that endorsed him -- to make any effective changes.

"I think it's going to be very difficult for Councilman Villaraigosa to take any position that's at odds with UTLA because of his long history with them as a union organizer," said Hahn, referring to issues like merit pay system for teachers and standardized testing.

Their interest in education is new to the candidates, both of whom left the issue to former Assembly Speaker Bob Hertzberg in the primary election. While Hertzberg said proposing a break-up of LAUSD, Hahn and Villaraigosa each said the mayor should simply use the office to build support and get funding for the district.

In addition to proposing greater control over the district, each candidate has also signed a pledge, developed by the Small School Alliance, to work toward a goal of having schools with a maximum of 500 students.

Rick Orlov, (213) 978-0390 rick.orlov@dailynews.com