School rules.

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has successfully pushed through legislation that gives him a greater say over the management of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Business leaders backed the mayor because they feel the district isn't giving their future workers the necessary skills. So the Business Journal asks:

Do you think Villaraigosa's plan for the School District will lead to a better-educated work force?

Yvette Tanner

Senior Manager,

Royalty Compliance Division

Moss Adams LLP 

No, I do not think that the mayor has any experience in education. I think he is trying to infiltrate a system that, although it's broken, cannot be fixed by a politician. I don't think that there is an easy fix for this one. It has to come from everybody working for the good of the students--that means parents, teachers, and community involvement.

Robert Corbin

Partner

Windes & McClaughry Accountancy Corp.

Absolutely. I feel that he has done a really good job so far in his term in office. I look forward to the good things he can do. We're all aware of the problems LA unified has had over the past years--the lower test scores, the decrepit schools. New blood and new ideas are definitely in order.

Curt Hessler

Adjunct Professor

UCLA Law School

I think it would if the plan had a clear line of control between the mayor's office and the school district. But my understanding is that the bill that has been passed and sent to the governor has a lot of ambiguity about who controls what in the school district. And without clarity it's very difficult for long-term reform to take place.

Paul Winley

Senior Construction Manager

AMCAL Multi-Housing Inc.

I don't really see where a mayor taking over a school district is going to do any good. We have all these educators who've been dealing with the schools for years. I think it's more a matter of the teachers needing a little more training and higher pay--if you pay a little bit more money you might get a higher grade of teacher. Getting the families involved in the education is a big part of it; I don't know if the mayor running it has any more ability to do that then the people running it.

Tom Rodzewich

Business Development Manager,

Wholesale Lending Division

Indymac Bank

My gut feeling is that it's not going to do anything, but the mayor has other things to worry about. The schools are important, but the city has its own supervisors to handle those issues. And the mayor should focus his attention on other issues.

Kevin Ryan

Senior Associate,

Andy Spahn & Associates Inc.

It's been encouraging to watch the debate on this issue and see education raised to such an important level here in Los Angeles. It is my hope that the mayor's energy and commitment to L.A.'s children will have a positive and lasting effect on our work force and, as a result, our community at large.

Betsy Berger

Assistant Director

American Technion Society

No. It's the most confusing, complicated plan. Other cities that have implemented this plan, it was very clear cut. But not in L.A. I do think the school system needs a complete and total overhaul. I think I got a terrible education at L.A. Unified. My daughters went to the same school I did, El Camino in Woodland Hills. I wasn't prepared. And my own kids, at the top of their classes they are still ill-prepared. It's not just the low-income kids.