SCHOOL-SAFETY PLAN STARTS WITH A HUG.

Byline: RICK ORLOV Staff Writer

Like members of a feuding family trying to prove to the world they really do get along, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and school officials shared a hug Wednesday just days after he won greater control of Los Angeles Unified.

In a crowded Fremont High School library where a new campus-safety program was announced, Villaraigosa, Superintendent Roy Romer and school board President Marlene Canter were asked whether there was any awkwardness in being together.

``Awkward? No. In fact, come here, Marlene and give me a hug,'' Villaraigosa said to Canter, who was standing beside him at a podium.

After their brief embrace, Villaraigosa turned to Romer, who stood stiffly and patted the mayor on the back.

``We are all adults here,'' Villaraigosa said. ``We are partners in this operation and we will be partners in many things to come.''

The conciliatory signs came two days after Villaraigosa witnessed Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger sign into law Assembly Bill 1381, which gives him wide latitude over the decisions affecting the LAUSD and limits the role of school board members.

Canter, Romer and the school district have fought him on the proposal and plan a court challenge.

In the meantime, Canter said, the city and school district can work together and, during her remarks, she praised Villaraigosa for his leadership skills.

Joining in the mutual admiration society was New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who flew out to spend time to talk with Villaraigosa about various problems and programs being developed in the two cities.

Villaraigosa visited with Bloomberg last April.

The school-safety program announced Wednesday is modeled after a program Bloomberg started called Impact Schools, in which selected schools with high crime problems were singled out for special police attention.

Bloomberg said it has resulted in a dramatic drop in crime not only in the targeted schools but throughout the city.

``If you have a school where teachers can't teach and students can't learn, you are going to have problems in your city,'' Bloomberg said.

Villaraigosa said Los Angeles planned to modify its successful Compstat program used by the LAPD to track crime throughout the city.

Under the program, officials from the city, school district and Police Department will meet with parents, teachers, community leaders and others to look at the problems affecting the schools and possible solutions.

``We look at it as the 10 percent solution,'' said Police Chief William Bratton. ``What we have found is 10 percent of an area is responsible for 50 percent of the crime. If you control that area, you reduce all crime.''

Initially, the program will focus around Fremont and Jefferson high schools in the South Los Angeles area, but can be expanded to other areas.

``Improving student safety to and from school, creating safer after- school surroundings and making neighborhoods safer from gang and drug activity will result in a school environment more conducive to learning,'' Villaraigosa said.

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com

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