CHICK WINS SUPPORT FOR AUDIT.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Escalating pressure on a wary Los Angeles school board, Controller Laura Chick won the backing of six City Council members Tuesday in her efforts to audit the district.

Since her offer last week to review Los Angeles Unified, Chick said she has been besieged with public support for her involvement - including a possible City Charter change that would give her office a formal role in overseeing the schools.

``I believe the school district can benefit from some kind of independent and objective review that asks and answers the following question: How is the LAUSD doing and how can it do it better?'' she said.

Joining Chick were council members Wendy Greuel, Eric Garcetti, Tom LaBonge, Bernard Parks, Bill Rosendahl and Jack Weiss - who said they will back a proposal next week urging the school board to invite Chick to conduct the audit.

Parks said he does not believe the school system has improved - noting that all schools in his council district are performing below-average and one school, Crenshaw High, was faced with decertification.

``Laura Chick has shown the ability to tackle the tough problems,'' Parks said. ``That's what the LAUSD needs more now.''

But while school board President Marlene Canter said she doesn't object to Chick's involvement, she is concerned with the audit's cost - estimated at $800,000 - and whether it would duplicate what is already being done.

``We all have great respect for Laura Chick, but what I said to her is that we should wait to see the next report we are getting on Monday - that is also a pathway for reform - to see what areas are needed for further study,'' Canter said.

``I don't think we should just authorize something without further discussion of where we're going and what's needed. I would like her input on all of that,'' she said.

But Chick - an ally of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who is pushing for broad reform in the district - said the only way to determine a future direction is by having her office take over the entire audit.

She also said she believes the district can afford it.

``Look at the numbers,'' Chick said. ``They have an Inspector General's Office with a budget of $12 million and 120 auditors. My audit division is $2.7 million and 25 auditors. I think they can find the funds for this,'' she said.

``This audit would just be the beginning of how the district could change. This would be an audit that the unions, the school board, the City Council and, more importantly, the public could look at and see an accurate road map for change,'' she said.

Chick said she also believes her office should be given a permanent role in reviewing school district operations, much as it does with city agencies.

Such a move would require voter approval and a change in the City Charter, she said.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com