Becerra Urges More Schools as a Way to End Busing

Joining other candidates in the race for mayor, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) announced a wide-ranging platform on education Thursday.

Becerra sounded the same basic themes as the other mayoral hopefuls have in calling for more schools, expanded after-school programs and better cooperation between the city and the school district to keep schools open as community services.

He pledged the city’s help in identifying school sites, expediting the permitting process and cooperating to open schools in existing structures, all with the goal of ending forced busing.

“My wife and I are fortunate,” said Becerra, whose two school-age children attend Dahlia Heights Elementary School in Eagle Rock. “We walk our daughters to school and live close enough that we can easily take an active role in their education. All parents should have that luxury.”

As mayor, Becerra said, he would call a summit of city officials and parents, students, teachers and school administrators. He also proposed issuing a library card to every student on the first day of kindergarten and providing more after-school programs in libraries.

Becerra said he would ask developers to help pay for new schools near their projects. Although the district assesses developers fees, “We could ask developers to do a little bit more,” Becerra said.

He would also start an incentive program to reduce the utility rates of teachers who live near their schools, allow city employees leave time to be involved with schools and create a unit on city government in the district’s government course, Becerra said.

Many of the proposals echoed the education initiatives of Mayor Richard Riordan and one--instituting an annual school report card--has already been done.