COMMISSION TO HELP CHART LAUSD'S FUTURE.

Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer

Amid growing calls for reform and the resignation Thursday of yet another top school district official, a commission will be appointed today to assess how L.A. Unified operates.

The 26-member commission - expected to be approved today by the City Council - will be charged with recommending whether the nation's second-largest school district should be subdivided, placed under the authority of the mayor or have full-time board members.

It also will review whether Los Angeles Unified School District board members should have higher salaries, term limits and caps on their political contributions.

``Everything is on the table,'' City Council President Alex Padilla said at a news conference.

The Joint Commission on LAUSD Governance - to be appointed by the City Council and the school board - will suggest ways to lower the district's high dropout rates, increase parental participation and make schools safer. The group's first report is expected by January.

The reform effort was announced Thursday as Chief Financial Officer Ken Gotsch announced his resignation - the fourth LAUSD leader to step down in 10 days.

Inspector General Don Mullinax and labor attorney Richard Fisher resigned, and Chief Operating Officer Tim Buresh failed to have his contract extended by Superintendent Roy Romer.

Gotsch, 45, who earned $195,000 a year, said he is leaving after two years to return to his family in Chicago. Deputy Chief Financial Officer Charles Burbridge will replace Gotsch once his final date is negotiated, officials said.

Romer acknowledged the spate of recent resignations, but said they do not indicate deeper trouble in the district.

``This is not a part of a grand wave,'' he said. ``Some things happened simultaneously.''

But school board President Jose Huizar said Gotsch's departure, combined with the others, puts pressure on members to hire a replacement for Mullinax to head the Independent Analysis Unit.

``I'm concerned that all these folks at one time are leaving. They provide additional oversight and cross-checking,'' Huizar said. ``Here, to have an interim period without these folks creates some concern.''

Huizar was among those at a Boyle Heights news conference to announce plans for the new commission, formed in response to criticism of the 735,000-student district.

``We are here today because we know this is long overdue,'' Huizar said. ``I know in my heart LAUSD can be a high-performing organization ... We simply have to provide the structures to let them succeed.''

While the city has authority to examine the LAUSD's governance on its own, Padilla said he's glad the district has the courage to help examine its own problems.

The plan drew general support, although critics noted the panel won't be able to resolve such problems as funding shortages and high-stakes testing.

``It's a distraction from focusing on the lowest-performing schools and the achievement gap,'' board member David Tokofsky said. ``It's an invitation for those who have less awareness of instruction to be engaged in telling people what to do.''

United Teachers Los Angeles President John Perez said he hopes the commission decides that the LAUSD needs more board members. Currently, the elected officials receive $24,000 a year, forcing some to work second jobs.

``Seven people cannot do the job. It's ridiculous,'' he said. ``More democracy is better than less democracy.''

Jennifer Radcliffe, [phone]

jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com