LAUSD WATCHDOG RESIGNING NO WORD ON WHAT'S NEXT FOR INSPECTOR GENERAL MULLINAX.

Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer

Los Angeles Unified School District Inspector General Don Mullinax announced his resignation Thursday - after six years as the top watchdog for the nation's second-largest school district.

His last day on the job will be May 12, according to his resignation memo. He did not state the reason for his departure.

``The Office of the Inspector General has made tremendous progress during the past six years in restoring credibility and professionalism to the audit and investigation processes,'' Mullinax wrote in his resignation. ``It has been difficult and challenging, but at the same time gratifying.''

The 47-year-old received permission from LAUSD to speak with other potential employers several months ago, but no mention was made Thursday of his future employment plans, officials said. Mullinax, a former auditor for the Department of Defense and a U.S. Senate committee, did not immediately return phone calls.

``I wish him well,'' Superintendent Roy Romer said. ``I think he served us long and hard, and I always appreciate that kind of service.''

Since his hiring in January 1999, Mullinax has taken heat for issuing scathing reports on district mismanagement. And through the years, several pushes have been made to strip Mullinax of some oversight powers.

At one point, a top LAUSD official publicly accused Mullinax of ``implementing fear'' and not working collaboratively with management. ``It's a thankless job,'' board member David Tokofsky said. ``We were blessed to have a person of such work ethic and integrity to start off this office in the middle of a firestorm.''

Just months after the inspector general's office was created, Mullinax issued a 200-plus page report, supported by 6,000 pages of evidence, that pointed to a plethora of problems with the Belmont Learning Center, the nation's costliest high school.

Mullinax oversees up to 100 auditors and investigators. Workers operate a hotline and conduct dozens of investigations a year to prevent and detect fraud and waste.

Most recently, Mullinax was heavily criticized by leaders of the Bond Oversight Committee for a critical report about their consultant, Tom Rubin. Leaders of the committee demanded a retraction, but Mullinax never issued one.

School board President Jose Huizar said he has already scheduled a meeting next week with Mullinax to discuss an interim plan for the position. He said he'd also like to reconsider some of the office's interworkings.

Huizar said he was surprised and saddened about the resignation.

``I think Don Mullinax has done an excellent job for us,'' he said.

Earlier this week, LAUSD labor attorney Richard Fisher announced that he will retire at the end of June, abandoning a $450-an-hour post.

For more information, visit www.laoig.org.

Jennifer Radcliffe, [phone]

jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com