The Valley Industry & Commerce Association Board of Directors opposes a pending state Assembly bill to reform Los Angeles schools. A main objection by the organization was the absence of a provision to allow parents and voters a say on the future of the district, said a letter sent July 18 to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signed by VICA Board Chairman Bob Scott, State Issues Committee Chairman Greg Lippe, and Education Committee Chairman Greg Weinberg. “Many of us in the business community were optimistic that the tack you were taking on mayoral control (or increased influence through participation on the school board) was the tack we would ultimately support,” the letter said. “We find it unfortunate that the reluctance of enough legislators to support such changes and the influence of the teachers’ union in Sacramento to bend made it impossible for any inclusion in AB 1381 of meaningful reforms such as a significantly increased role by the mayor and/or a path toward a local vote on breakup.” Another issue in the assembly bill VICA could not agree to is decision making by a council of mayors. The organization also said direct mayoral control over underperforming clusters of schools does not necessarily require an act of legislation. VICA says nothing is preventing a mayor from running any campuses as charter schools if the parents and school board agreed to it. VICA, however, was in agreement with the bill’s provisions on removing school board members from certain decisions related to construction and contract negotiations; giving the mayor a seat on the superintendent selection committee; and allowing teachers, parents and stakeholders to have a say in some but not all decisions related to curriculum and text books.
