Fresno Mayor Alan Autry says he will sue the state Legislature if it gives Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa power over L.A. schools after he was denied similar power over Fresno schools. There are so many holes in Autry's position, it's difficult to figure which part of his reasoning should be attacked first.
Let's start with suing the Legislature. Go ahead, but you better not be using taxpayer money. That would be a colossal waste -- intended to serve the mayor's ego and not the citizens of Fresno.
Fix Fresno's problems first before you take on school district issues. Besides, a reform-minded school board is on the right track with the help of a new superintendent in Fresno. Stop pulling the rug out from under them and give them a chance to succeed.
If the mayor should control the Fresno school district, what about Clovis Unified? Much of it is in the city of Fresno. But Clovis parents have too much clout and the mayor apparently is afraid of taking them on. But where's your consistency, mayor? While you're at it, you should be screaming to take over Central Unified, too, because part of that district is in Fresno.
Sure, the public schools have problems, but those are not going to be solved by putting a politician in charge of the school system.
If the mayor wants to help the schools, he should create jobs so children aren't growing up in poverty. He should improve their neighborhoods so they are safe. He should control the drug problem that's hurting so many of our children.
Villaraigosa should take the same advice: fix Los Angeles before taking on the L.A. schools. Your city is a mess, Mayor Villaraigosa. Why are you ignoring it?
There is a lot both mayors could do for the schools in their cities. But please stop pandering to those who believe that there are easy answers to solving the problems of our schools.
I suppose a point might be made that most "Fresno's problems"(crime, poverty, gangs, neighborhood safety) are also "school district" problems.
I do find it fascinating - politically speaking - that a Demo LA mayor is given kudos by the California media for his attempt to "fix" his school district while a Fresno GOP mayor is roundly condemned for trying to do the same.
Granted, that putting any politician in control of a school district is a risky proposition - and it might prove a disaster - but then, we have a disaster-in-the-making now!
Strange things are happening in Fresno school districts, Fed and State monies appear and disappear, teacher-prodded rallies on the behalf of illegal aliens, with unauthorized student absences, are given free reign, teachers, unions and administrators spar over the merits of high school exit exams, high school drop-out statistics are altered, well-liked principals are moved around, on a whim, like pieces on a chess board, there is an ongoing shortage of qualified teachers in inner-city, poverty-pocket schools, and the demoralizing leadership turnover is at a high rate. And the latest fiscal crisis is SUPPOSEDLY settled, for now!
Could Autry do any worse? Not even if he tried! Could it be that it's not the mayor's ego after all, just a honest and sincere desire to do the right thing?
We would all be better served to get over the turf wars and get on to collaborating towards solutions. The blame game (aka drama triangle of victim, persecutor and rescuer) only supports more of the same. Leveraging our community strengths, we are and will continue to take on education, employment, poverty, addictions, land use, air quality, downtown, et al, concurrently.
When we LISTEN for possibilities, ACT with focus and intention, LEARN from mistakes and TRUST the motives of our community members, we build our community.
When we play the blame game, we destroy our community.
It's not about turf, it's about effective action. Let's be effective, because we are in this together.
Why do these big city mayors think they can run a school district? It's not like Fresno or L.A. are exemplars of city government. And does Autry have even a passing familiarity with the complex maze of laws and regulations that school districts have to comply with? Has he seen the size of the Education Code? It's a whole different ballgame than running a city.
If Autry wants to run for the school board after he's termed out, I just might vote for him. But in the meantime, I think he ought to stick to the job we elected him to do.