Mayor’s School Bill Clears Hurdle

Legislation that would give Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa some control over Los Angeles public schools cleared a key hurdle Thursday without debate and was expected to face final votes next week.

The bill, AB 1381, was approved 9 to 2 by the Senate Appropriations Committee, with the support of seven Democrats and two Republicans.

One Republican who voted for the bill, Sen. Bob Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga, said afterward, “I’ve been interested in seeing greater involvement between elected city officials and school districts for quite a while.”

Two other Republicans on the 13-member committee voted no. Sen. Chuck Poochigian (R-Fresno) and Sen. Dean Florez (D-Shafter) abstained.

The full Senate is expected to consider the measure as early as Tuesday. The Assembly will then take it up.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has pledged to sign the legislation if it reaches his desk.

Lawmakers and political analysts widely expect the bill to win approval, despite opposition from Los Angeles Unified School District leaders.

The legislation, which would divide power among Villaraigosa, the appointed superintendent and the elected school board, has the backing of the Legislature’s two most powerful figures: Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland) and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez (D-Los Angeles), one of its authors.

On Thursday, Villaraigosa won the support of Sen. Martha Escutia (D-Whittier), who had criticized the measure for failing to provide an adequate voice in district affairs to cities outside Los Angeles that have students who attend L.A. Unified schools.

Villaraigosa struck a compromise with Escutia, giving six southeast Los Angeles County cities, including South Gate and Maywood, a greater role in selecting the superintendent and the ability to veto the school system’s choice of a regional leader who oversees schools in their area.

The bill’s coauthor, Sen. Gloria Romero (D-Los Angeles), said she was confident that the measure would make it through the Legislature.

“It’s a good shake-up for the district, and this mayor will have to deliver,” she said.