Gov's plan brings jitters to South Bay educators
Read the report from Paul and Gene Maddaus on the State of the State speech. More details will come forward, when Schwarzenegger unveils his budget on Thursday.
South Bay legislators and school officials reacted warily Tuesday to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's State of the State address, in which he announced plans to intervene in failing schools and reform the state's budget process.
Due to the budget crunch, Schwarzenegger has scaled back his education ambitions for 2008. Instead of broad-based reform, the governor will seek more affordable measures that could include state takeovers of districts or schools.
On Tuesday, the governor singled out 98 school districts that have underperformed for five consecutive years. The Los Angeles Unified and Lennox school districts made the list.
Los Angeles Unified Trustee Richard Vladovic, who represents the San Pedro-
to-Watts district, said he believes the district is already taking steps to improve its schools and doubted that state intervention would be far-reaching.
"Do I think he'll come in and take over L.A.?" Vladovic asked. "Absolutely not."