ANTONIO, ROMER GO TO WAR BOTH RALLY ALLIES IN LAUSD TAKEOVER BID.

Byline: NAUSH BOGHOSSIAN and HARRISON SHEPPARD Staff Writers

The fight for control of Los Angeles Unified escalated Tuesday, with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa lobbying union and business leaders in Sacramento and the district flying in opponents of takeover efforts from around the country.

Los Angeles Unified -- which already has hired a public relations firm to promote its agenda -- spent $1,500 to fly in parents from New York City, Chicago and Detroit -- who will meet today with parent groups in Los Angeles and encourage them to fight mayoral takeover.

While Villaraigosa spokeswoman Janelle Erickson lambasted it as a ``blatant public-relations move and a questionable use of taxpayer dollars,'' district officials said the expense of the parents' trip was justified because it allowed an exchange of ideas.

``I think any legislator should try to find as many thoughtful people from other cities at the lowest possible public expense, and this seems to come close to that goal,'' board member David Tokofsky said.

``It's unfortunate that this district doesn't bring in more thinkers from other cities on a regular basis and, therefore, it sticks out like a sore thumb. But compared to the recent story about how much has been spent on Antonio flying around the country on City Hall funds or on private jets, this is just a thumb, not 10 fingers of public funds.''

Villaraigosa, meanwhile, met with teachers' unions, business leaders and the state PTA to pitch his plan to create a council of mayors that would oversee the district and appoint the superintendent, lessening the power of the elected school board.

``I'm here today to continue to work to build support for our proposals to reform our schools and to have accountability,'' Villaraigosa said. ``I think it's important at a time when many of the people who oppose this proposal don't seem to really understand what's in it. I think it's important, at a minimum, they be informed about exactly what we're proposing.''

While spending district funds for public relations is not illegal, it does raise questions about propriety, said Bob Stern, director of the Center for Governmental Studies in Los Angeles.

``They're clearly playing hardball with this issue. Hiring a P.R. firm shows how seriously they're taking this, but the question becomes what is an appropriate use of district money, and certainly trying to defend the school district from a takeover -- a hostile takeover -- might be considered an appropriate use," Stern said. ``They're saying, we think it's a wrong thing for the mayor to do and we're bringing in people to convince the public that it's wrong.''

Parent Shanta Driver of Detroit is among those critical of mayoral takeover, maintaining that it lowered the quality of education, created financial problems and diminished accountability in her Michigan district. In Los Angeles, she said, it would divide the community and increase racial tensions.

``If this takeover goes through, I can't believe those programs that have achieved integration won't fall and that parts of the Valley won't break off,'' said Driver, the national spokeswoman for By Any Means Necessary, a coalition that defends affirmative action, integration and immigration rights.

``It was a disaster in Detroit and the parents became united in a fight to end the takeover. You want to give parents and students a chance to focus on education, not on politics.''

Local parents said hearing the impassioned messages from parents in cities that have experienced mayoral control would finally spur them into action.

``My hope is that we will now get serious about organizing around what parents want for their children, not necessarily what a mayor wants, or the district or the board,'' said Bill Ring, chairman of the Parent Collaborative, whose 101 elected parents and community members represent parents in LAUSD. ``Parents need to set the agenda.''

Questions about Villaraigosa's plan also are being raised in Sacramento.

California Federation of Teachers President Mary Bergan said that while the mayor has some positive goals -- increasing staff development and expanding student access to community services -- she is concerned about creating a ``super-superintendent.''

``I don't like the basics of the plan,'' said Bergan, whose group passed a resolution at its convention earlier this year opposing all mayoral takeovers of school districts.

Other opposition groups include the California Teachers Association, the California School Boards Association, and United Teachers Los Angeles, the local teachers' union that is affiliated with both state groups.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has endorsed the mayor's plan and said he would sign legislation to enable it -- bills that have yet to be drafted.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, and Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata have recently said they are open to the mayor's proposal and expect extensive hearings, but they are waiting for details.

Villaraigosa also met Tuesday with the California Chamber of Commerce, which is still evaluating his proposal and has not yet taken a formal position.

Villaraigosa is going to have to overcome resistance in the Legislature, among Democrats on the education committee who are allied with the unions and Republicans who also have concerns.

Sen. Abel Maldonado, R-San Luis Obispo, vice chairman of the Senate Education Committee, said he believes mayors have enough municipal problems to worry about without also having to deal with school districts.

``I think Mayor Villaraigosa needs to fix potholes and remove graffiti before he starts looking at anything else,'' said Maldonado, a former mayor of Santa Maria.

Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, is carrying Villaraigosa's proposal in the Legislature. The bill is not in print yet, but she hopes it can be introduced and passed before the summer recess in July or by the end of session Aug. 31.

``Maybe in Santa Maria the concern for the mayor should be potholes,'' Romero said. ``But in Los Angeles ... I think to say that they have other things to worry about is like telling us in the Legislature that we should only worry about funding the budget and then all of us go home. To ignore education is to really be an ostrich and put our head in the sand.''