MAYOR TO TOUR SCHOOLS IN NYC.

Byline: Rick Orlov Staff Writer

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced plans Thursday to tour mayoral-controlled New York City public schools next week, even as the teachers union prepares a counterproposal to Villaraigosa's plan for mayoral takeover of Los Angeles public schools.

Villaraigosa, who has cited New York City as an example of how mayoral control can improve schools, said he and several staff members will spend two days meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, school officials and others.

Villaraigosa also will tour two schools in New York City and meet with parents, students and teachers as well as business leaders who have formed a partnership to work with the school system.

``I want to study firsthand what education reforms are working in New York and see what we can use here to make our schools more responsive,'' Villaraigosa said.

The mayor has said he hopes to unveil his own plan within the next two months for increased mayoral authority over the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Spokeswoman Janelle Erickson said Villaraigosa also wants to review the work of some nonprofit groups that have been involved in recruiting teachers and principals as well as how private businesses have worked to improve the quality of education.

But United Teachers Los Angeles President A.J. Duffy, who has opposed a complete mayoral takeover, said he is developing his own plans to submit to Villaraigosa that would provide for an increase in mayoral responsibility but stop short of a full takeover.

``We are developing a comprehensive shell of a reform package that talks about the kind of partnerships we want to make with the mayor and school district,'' Duffy said. ``What we are trying to do is find a program that meets his criteria for more mayoral involvement, short of full control.''

Duffy said that while the plan is still being developed, he is suggesting it include a pilot program in which one or two areas of the district would be allowed to operate differently.

``The mayor, the school superintendent and I would serve as conservators,'' Duffy said. ``Basically, these entities would be their own district, with waivers similar to those given charter schools to give incentives but also reach out to the local community.''

Duffy and Villaraigosa have maintained close personal ties throughout the debate over the future of the LAUSD - with Duffy having served on the mayor's education task force.

``We continue to talk,'' Duffy said. ``There are some areas where we disagree, but we are talking about different options.''

In New York City, Bloomberg was able to take over the schools system - with its 1.1 million students, 85,000 teachers and 1,406 schools - after a protracted campaign.

New York had a complicated system with 32 local school boards and no single curriculum. Bloomberg named a chancellor for the district and created a citywide advisory panel appointed by him and borough presidents.

Staff writer Naush Boghossian contributed to this story.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com