COUNCIL DELAYS DECISION ON LAUSD-REFORMS VOTE.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

A sharply divided Los Angeles City Council put off until today a decision on whether to ask voters to approve a series of reforms for the Los Angeles Unified school board.

Councilman Jose Huizar, who came to the council this year after nearly five years on the school board, fell short in his effort Tuesday to place the reforms on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The proposals would limit campaign donations to board members, limit members to two terms and create a panel to study their pay.

``All I hear about is the need to make reforms in the school district,'' Huizar said. ``Now is the time to put these on the ballot if there is a sense of urgency, and not wait until next March.''

But other council members, led by Councilman Herb Wesson, said they believed that the proposals need more study.

They also said they are concerned about the potential impact on reform legislation being pushed by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

``I admire your hard work, but this needs more time,'' Wesson said. ``If the mayor's legislation is approved this year, we will have to come back and look at these. I urge us to wait.''

The council was unable to get a majority vote either to put the reforms on the ballot or study them further. As a result, the council will consider it again today.

Councilwoman Janice Hahn also urged more study of Huizar's proposals, as well as 51 other recommendations contained in a report by the Presidents' Commission on School Governance.

``How many of us have read the full report? It hasn't even been formally presented to us to review,'' Hahn said. ``I think this commission deserves the respect to have us review their work.''

Huizar said he culled the three proposals he believed were the most important for voter review.

``I want to capitalize on the momentum and public interest we have now in education,'' he said. ``I don't know if it will be there next year.''

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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