A California state senator has introduced legislation that would hand control of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s school board to the city’s mayor.
The bill would give newly elected Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, the power to appoint a majority of board members if the 720,000-student system failed to meet certain academic requirements.
The seven-member board would be expanded by two members, who be selected by a committee representing the cities and unincorporated areas within the district that are not represented by the mayor.
Sen. Gloria Romero, a Democrat from Los Angeles, introduced the legislation July 18. Mr. Villaraigosa, who was elected May 17, called for giving the city’s mayor control of the schools during his campaign. However, he has since put takeover plans on hold and is forming a panel to identify ways the city government could help improve the schools.
