GOP STATE LEGISLATORS SEEK LAUSD BREAKUP.

Byline: HARRISON SHEPPARD Sacramento Bureau

SACRAMENTO -- While Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's bid to reform Los Angeles Unified remains stalled in court, a new effort to break up the district is expected to be launched today in the state Legislature.

Sen. George Runner, R-Lancaster, and Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, R-Santa Clarita, plan to introduce a bill that would reorganize the LAUSD into about 15 districts of no more than 50,000 students each.

``We believe once you start getting over 50,000, you begin to go down that same track of not being size-efficient, and you start losing accountability to the parents and community,'' Runner said.

The bill is identical to one that Runner and former Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Northridge, introduced last year that was blocked in committee and then set aside as the mayor's plan gained momentum.

Villaraigosa's plan, passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor last year, calls for a Council of Mayors to ratify the hiring and firing of the LAUSD superintendent. It also creates a mayor-controlled partnership to run the district's lowest-performing schools.

But a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, ruling in a lawsuit filed by the LAUSD board, declared the measure unconstitutional last month, and the mayor is now appealing.

But Runner said he believes the appeal ultimately will fail, and breaking up the district should be the next reform to be considered.

Assembly Speaker Fabian NuIllegal 'X-value' for character STYLs voided here ez, D-Los Angeles, a co-author of the mayor's LAUSD bill, does not support breaking up the district.

``In this case, smaller isn't beautiful,'' said Steve Maviglio, a NuIllegal 'X-value' for character STYLs voided here ez spokesman. ``It would be an administrative nightmare, invite dozens of lawsuits, possibly affect desegregation plans worked out long ago, and create dozens of new fiefdoms.''

A spokeswoman for Villaraigosa said he believes he will prevail in court and is focused on reforming the district, not breaking it up. The mayor plans to release a detailed policy framework tonight outlining his reform plans, spokeswoman Janelle Erickson said.

``We remain confident that the law is on our (side) and are moving aggressively forward with our planning and preparations for the mayor's partnership schools,'' she said.

School board President Marlene Canter said she doesn't think it's the appropriate time to consider breaking up LAUSD, which is in the middle of a massive building program.

``Timing is everything, and this is not the right time as far as I'm concerned,'' Canter said.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has previously declared his support for breaking up the district, as well as for Villaraigosa's bid to gain partial control.

Runner said if his bill fails, he might consider legislation revising the process for citizen group petitions for breakup so the state Board of Education would have less ability to keep them off the ballot.

Runner said his bill is aimed specifically at L.A. and would not deal with other districts. Currently there are 10 districts in California that have more than 50,000 students, according to California Department of Education data.

harrison.sheppard(at)dailynews.com

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