Villaraigosa Outlines Plan to Help Schools

Mayoral candidate Antonio Villaraigosa on Wednesday announced an 11-point plan for improving public schools.

The former Assembly speaker said he would help the district build 100 new schools and turn schools into neighborhood centers by linking them with parks, libraries, after-school programs and health clinics.

Many of the points addressed broad goals beyond the scope of the mayor’s office, which has no direct authority over the Los Angeles Unified School District. Among them are expanding the district’s magnet program and challenging parents to be involved in their children’s education.

Without mentioning Mayor Richard Riordan, Villaraigosa tacitly acknowledged that Riordan’s emphasis on education has set a standard for future mayors.

“Angelenos expect their leaders to engage in the civic debate over the future of education,” he said.

Whereas Riordan has exercised his influence primarily through supporting candidates for the Board of Education, Villaraigosa envisions the mayor as a partner of the school district.

He said he would lobby Sacramento for more school funds, work to start after-school programs in every school and seek a law allowing city inspectors to cite schools for dilapidated bathrooms.

He proposed a joint task force involving the city, the county, the school district and local colleges and universities to promote joint-use facilities.

Villaraigosa said he opposes breaking up the district, which serves 723,000 students.

At a news conference, a number of Los Angeles educational figures affirmed their support of Villaraigosa. They included Board of Education President Genethia Hayes and Day Higuchi, president of the 43,000-member United Teachers-Los Angeles.

Before his election to the Legislature, Villaraigosa worked for eight years as a UTLA organizer.